Beloved Seattle artist and teacher who was gunned down remembered by friends



SEATTLE  --  Who would gun down a beloved local artist and teacher last weekend?  That's the question those who knew and loved Brent McDonald are struggling to answer.

While Seattle police aren't releasing much about the investigation, those who knew McDonald want the killer caught.

"He was very gentle and kind and strong and a really fine teacher," said one coworker, Claudia Stelle.

Seattle Police were called to the 2100 block of 3rd Ave. after reports of gunshots around 3 a.m. Sunday.  Officers found McDonald lying on the sidewalk with a gunshot wound.  They performed CPR and he was transported to Harborview Medical Center, but didn't make it.

"Some of us are so furious, again, about guns and the ability to have guns," said Marybeth Satterlee. "If they didn't Brent, would probably be right here today."

McDonald spent much of his time teaching art to middle school children at Coyote Central in the Central District.  He worked with nearly 700 students over the course of 10 years.

The artwork he created with his students can be found all over Seattle.  While staff notifies families of McDonald's passing, they plan to hold a remembrance ceremony in the coming days.

He leaves behind his longtime partner and teenage daughter.