Neighbors concerned violent crime growing out of control in Tukwila



TUKWILA, Wash. -- In the past 30 days, at least three shootings were reported in Tukwila.

Sunday night was the latest incident. Police said someone gunned down two people sitting in a parked car, killing one of them.

The latest shooting happened less than a block from a city park. Some neighbors worry the violence is getting out of hand.

Azucena Munoz said she worries about her son Tyler’s safety. Sunday night’s shooting happened only two blocks from her home.

“There was one after another one and I was like what’s going on?” she said.

Police said the shooting happened around 5:30 p.m. at an apartment complex on South 144th Street on Sunday.

Investigators said the shooting seriously injured a 24-year-old man and killed an 18-year-old Tukwila man.

Baldo Espenoca said the gunman killed his nephew.

“I have no idea what happened,” he said to Q13 News on Sunday night. “I know he just came out of the house an hour ago.”

Only days before Sunday's shooting, Tukwila Police exchanged gunfire Thursday with a man armed with a shotgun at an apartment complex who was accused of having fired at another man in the parking lot. Investigators  said they tried to negotiate with the suspect but it didn’t work.

“He refused and he shot at officers, and forced the officers to shoot back,” said Tukwila Police Department's Mike Murphy at the time of that shooting.

On July 15, two people were hurt and windows were shattered during a shooting at a nearby fast food restaurant.

According to the home security company Safewise.com, Tukwila is the most dangerous city, per capita, in America – up from second place last year.

The company said it used crime data from the FBI, saying Tukwila residents reported more than eight violent crimes per 1,000 people living in the city.

“I was surprised that Tukwila is the most dangerous city in America,” said Munoz. “I was like, wait a minute, are you for real?”

City officials said Safewise.com’s data doesn’t show the whole picture, arguing Tukwila’s population swells by tenfold during the day because of workers and commuters.

But for moms like Munoz, she hopes police will beef up their patrols and get a handle on a rash of violent crime.

The 24-year-old man hurt in Sunday’s shooting has serious injuries but is expected to survive, according to investigators.

The gunman is still on the loose, police said he is considered armed and dangerous and investigators think he knew his victims.