Showing posts with label guns. Show all posts
Showing posts with label guns. Show all posts

Candlelight vigil Wednesday for victims of gun violence

Sunday, December 11, 2022

Soul Box Wall
Wednesday, December 14, 2022 is the 10-year mark of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting when 26 people were shot and killed by a lone gunman.

By the end of 2022, over one million Americans will have been killed or injured by firearms since that tragic day.

Various community groups will host a candlelight vigil in Shoreline Wednesday at 7:00pm.

Participating groups include St. Dunstan's Episcopal Church, Alliance for Gun Responsibility, Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, Brady Campaign, Washington CeaseFire, Grandmothers Against Gun Violence, and the Soul Box Project.

Eight panels of Soul Boxes will be on display at the event. The Soul Box Project is a national community art project raising awareness about the scale of the gunfire epidemic in the U.S.

The Project displays hundreds of thousands of hand-made Soul Boxes in public spaces to illustrate the number of victims of gun violence, defense, accidents, and suicides.

Washington Candlelight Vigil To End Gun Violence
Date: Wednesday, December 14, 2022
Time: 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Location: St. Dunstan's Church, 722 N 145th Ave, Shoreline, WA



Read more...

AG Ferguson files lawsuit against Federal Way gun retailer and its owner for unlawfully selling high-capacity magazines

Thursday, December 8, 2022

Federal Way Discount Guns
Photo courtesy AG Office
Attorney General Bob Ferguson today announced a consumer protection lawsuit against Federal Way Discount Guns and its owner, Mohammed Reza Baghai, for illegally selling high-capacity magazines despite the ban on such products in our state. 

Ferguson is also seeking an injunction that would block the store from selling high-capacity magazines. The defendants face a maximum penalty of $7,500 every time the store offered a high-capacity magazine for sale and $7,500 every time it illegally sold a high-capacity magazine.

The lawsuit follows a statewide sweep of gun dealers conducted by investigators in Ferguson’s office. 

Attorney General investigators visited 25 firearms retailers across Washington to confirm that the retailers were complying with the new law. by attempting to purchase the unlawful magazines. Only two retailers did not comply, including Federal Way Discount Guns. The investigation into the other retailer is ongoing.

More information here



Read more...

Candlelight vigil December 14, 2022 to honor those impacted by gun violence

Saturday, December 3, 2022

December 14, 2022, is the 10-year mark of the Sandy Hook School shooting. By the end of this year, over one million Americans will have been killed or injured by firearms since that tragic day. 

The victims, survivors, their families and communities are often forgotten. 

Therefore, with our partners, Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, St. Dunstan’s Episcopal Church, Alliance for Gun Responsibility, Brady Campaign, Soul Box Project, Washington CeaseFire and Grandmothers Against Gun Violence, we will unite to host a candlelight vigil in loving remembrance for all those who have fallen victim to the ongoing epidemic of gun violence in America.

Our mission is to support families and communities impacted by gun violence, unite the gun violence prevention movement, educate, raise awareness, and keep this critical issue front and center throughout the nation.

Join us on Wednesday, December 14th at 7:00pm at St. Dunstan’s Church at 722 N 145th St, Shoreline, WA.

RSVP here

#WAVigilToEndGunViolence



Read more...

PTA: Firearms are now the leading cause of death for American children

Thursday, November 10, 2022

"Every child, one voice"
Washington State PTA's legislative priorities
Firearms are now the leading cause of death for American children, killing nearly five a day. 

In Washington, we lose a child or young person to firearm or suicide every other day. 

This is a public health crisis! Preventing and reducing gun violence and suicide is one of the Washington State PTA's (WSPTA) top five legislative priorities. 

Washington State PTA shall support legislation or policies that prevent and reduce gun violence and suicide including:
  1. Addressing the disproportionate impact on BIPOC and LGBTQ+ youth.
  2. Funding community-based prevention and intervention programs.
  3. Promoting safe storage of medication and firearms.
  4. Prohibiting the sale or transfer of military-style assault weapons.




Read more...

Accidental shooting near Spartan Rec Center on 185th

Thursday, September 22, 2022

The Spartan Rec Center is between the Shoreline Center and Shoreline Field off NE 185th
Photo by Jim Stitchka

Just before 6pm on Thursday, September 22, 2022 911 calls started coming in to Shoreline Police, reporting a group of 4-5 young men walking on NE 185th, with one of the men openly displaying a handgun.

As police were responding, more calls came in reporting the sound of a gunshot.

Spartan Recreation Center
Police found the group in front of the Spartan Recreation Center. One of the men had a gunshot wound to his arm. They located another man, whom they determined to be the victim's friend and the accidental shooter.

The group was uncooperative with the police, who are working to determine exactly what happened. However, they are certain that it was an accidental shooting and that it had nothing to do with the recreation center.

After determining scene safety, Shoreline medics transported a male in his 20’s to Harborview in stable condition with non life-threatening injuries. 

Another man with multiple misdemeanors was booked into the SCORE jail. SCORE (South Correctional Entity) is a regionally owned jail in Des Moines, Washington serving the confinement needs of 6 Member Cities and a number of contract agencies with a total capacity of 802 inmates.

Police expressed gratitude for all the 911 calls.



Read more...

County Council approves creation of permanent gun, ammo return program

Wednesday, July 27, 2022

Photo courtesy KCSO
The King County Council on Tuesday unanimously approved a proposal to create a permanent voluntary safe firearm and ammunition return program within the King County Sheriff's Office. 

The measure was sponsored by King County Councilmembers Rod Dembowski, Jeanne Kohl-Welles, Joe McDermott, Girmay Zahilay, Sarah Perry and Claudia Balducci.

“I am committed to doing everything I can to reduce gun violence in King County,” Dembowski said. 
“Reducing the number of guns in circulation will reduce the number of accidents, injuries and deaths caused by guns. And we know from past experience that people welcome the opportunity to turn unwanted guns over to a responsible party for disposal. 
"This program will make that resource available to residents countywide, and I’m hopeful that we can stand it up as soon as possible.”

The program will enable any person to take an unwanted firearm, or ammunition, to any precinct office or storefront operated by the King County Sheriff’s office, including in the 10 contract cities (including Shoreline and Kenmore) where it provides police services. The legislation also asks the Sheriff to explore partnerships with cities in the county to further expand access and reduce barriers for residents wishing to turn over firearms or ammunition.

The U.S. has seen more than 356 mass shootings in 2022, including the horrific events in Buffalo, New York and Uvalde, Texas in May.

"Our communities in King County, like communities around the country, have experienced a painful spike in gun violence since the start of the pandemic,” said Renée Hopkins, CEO for the Alliance for Gun Responsibility. 
“We know that it will take a comprehensive, public health response to address this urgent crisis. Offering residents a safe, consistent option for returning unwanted firearms and ammunition is an important part of that public health approach."

According to the most recent data available, the number of overall shooting victims in King County was up 70%, and the number of shooting fatalities was up 54% over the 4-year average from 2017 through 2020. In Washington state, 75% of all gun deaths are suicides, according to the Alliance for Gun Responsibility.

King County has a record of implementing successful programs and policies to increase gun safety, including requiring the destruction of forfeited firearms, encouraging safe firearm storage and enforcement of Extreme Risk Protection Orders. 

Past voluntary firearm and ammunition return programs, including a gun buyback program coordinated by King County and the City of Seattle in 2013, have proven to be effective in removing firearms from homes and communities. At the 2013 event, 716 firearms were safely surrendered to law enforcement.

The legislation requests the executive to assess the feasibility of a permanent program, so that an individual may peaceably deliver and abandon any unwanted firearm or ammunition to any King County Sheriff's Office location.

“Households with guns are more likely to experience gun violence, which can include heightened risk for suicide and domestic violence in homes,” Balducci said. 
"Providing a means to dispose guns that people don’t want or need, is one way to reduce the dangers of firearms in homes. I’m happy to co-sponsor and vote for this bill."

By county code, the items collected are melted down.




Read more...

Police investigating Sunday morning shooting in Lake City neighborhood

Wednesday, July 13, 2022

Shooting at 11300 block of Lake City Way NE
By Detective Patrick Michaud

Witnesses called police to the 11300 block of Lake City Way NE Sunday morning at 12:30am for reports of gunfire. 

Officers found that a 14-year-old victim had been shot in the arm and had fled to a nearby business.

Additional officers located shell casings over three city blocks.

Medics transported the victim to a nearby hospital for treatment of non life-threatening injuries.

Witnesses told officers they saw two groups fleeing the area, firing handguns out the windows of vehicles. Witnesses said an additional group of shooters was reported to have run into an apartment at a nearby location.

Officers surrounded the apartment and called out the occupants. Witnesses were unable to identify who the shooters were. 

Police booked one person into jail for assault and firearms violation warrants. Officers recovered two loaded AR-15 style rifles from the apartment, and found two magazines and approximately 50 rounds on the street nearby.

This remains an active and ongoing investigation.



Read more...

Informational meeting from Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America - Wednesday, June 29, 2022

Sunday, June 26, 2022

Local Moms Demand Action
WEDNESDAY 6/29 @ 630pm @ Shoreline Library, 345 NE 175th St, Shoreline, WA 98155  

Local volunteers with Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America will be holding an informational meeting. 

Come learn about the organization and how you can get involved locally to help curb gun violence in our communities. 

You need not be a mom - all are welcome! 

Read more...

Rally against mass shootings drew close to 250 marchers Sunday morning in LFP

Wednesday, June 15, 2022


By Diane Hettrick
Photos by Mike Remarcke

Close to 250 people, many dressed in the orange and red t-shirts of the Moms Demand Action (against gun violence) gathered Sunday morning, June 12, 2022 at Brookside Elementary in Lake Forest Park.

Enough is Enough the shirts say

They were there to express their concern about the epidemic of gun violence in America and their frustration at the lack of action from political leaders to protect the public.

In honor of the students and teachers who lost their lives on May 24, 2022 in Uvalde, Texas we rally against mass shootings.
PTA not NRA

They marched with home-made signs to Lake Forest Park Elementary where they gathered to hear speeches from local advocates and local politicians.

We cannot continue to allow shootings to traumatize Americans and lose innocent lives. We must act, unify, and change the status quo. None of us have been the same since the Uvalde and Buffalo shootings. These can be prevented by reasonable gun laws and we demand action. 
State Senator David Frockt

They were joined by State Senator David Frockt, State Representatives Gerry Pollet and Shelley Kloba.


Lake Forest Park Police officers provided a watchful presence, stopping traffic on Ballinger Way to allow the marchers to safely pass.


This event was organized by a collection of Shoreline and Lake Forest Park parents.



Read more...

Permanent gun, ammo return program focus of new King county council legislation

Friday, June 10, 2022

Photo courtesy King County Sheriff's Office

On Tuesday, June 7, 2022 King County Councilmembers Rod Dembowski, Jeanne Kohl-Welles, Joe McDermott, and Girmay Zahilay introduced a proposal to create a permanent, voluntary, safe firearm and ammunition return program within the King County Sheriff's Office. 

“I am committed to doing everything I can to reduce gun violence in King County,” Dembowski said. 
“Reducing the number of guns in circulation will reduce the number of accidents, injuries and deaths caused by guns. And we know from past experience that people welcome the opportunity to turn unwanted guns over to a responsible party for disposal. 
"This program will make that resource available to residents countywide, and I’m hopeful that we can stand it up as soon as possible.”

The program would enable any person to take an unwanted firearm, or ammunition, to any precinct office or storefront operated by the King County Sheriff’s office, including in the 10 contract cities where it provides police services. The legislation also asks the Sheriff to explore partnerships with cities in the county to further expand access and reduce barriers for residents wishing to turn over firearms or ammunition.

The U.S. has seen more than 230 mass shootings in 2022, including the horrific events in Buffalo, New York and Uvalde, Texas last month.

"Our communities in King County, like communities around the country, have experienced a painful spike in gun violence since the start of the pandemic,” said Renée Hopkins, CEO for the Alliance for Gun Responsibility. 
“We know that it will take a comprehensive, public health response to address this urgent crisis. Offering residents a safe, consistent option for returning unwanted firearms and ammunition is an important part of that public health approach."

According to the most recent data available, the number of overall shooting victims in King County was up 70%, and the number of shooting fatalities was up 54% over the 4-year average from 2017 through 2020.

“We need gun reform in more than just our laws —we need it at the cultural and individual level, too, in order to stop the plague of mass shootings in the United States,” Kohl-Welles said. 
“But, getting guns off the street and making them more difficult to access is an important place to start. That’s why I am so pleased to be supporting Councilmember Dembowski’s motion to explore establishing a safe firearm and ammunition return program in King County, and look forward to working with him to advance efforts to support gun safety.”

King County has a record of implementing successful programs and policies to increase gun safety, including requiring the destruction of forfeited firearms, encouraging safe firearm storage and enforcement of Extreme Risk Protection Orders. 

Past voluntary firearm and ammunition return programs, including a gun buyback program coordinated by King County and the City of Seattle in 2013, have proven to be effective in removing firearms from homes and communities. At the 2013 event, 716 firearms were safely surrendered to law enforcement.

“Just as King County’s previous firearm buyback program led to over 700 firearms voluntarily leaving the streets, a firearm and ammunition return program will give residents a safe, secure, and reliable option to remove these items from their home, and move us forward in our work to prevent all forms of gun violence,” McDermott said.

The legislation requests the executive to assess the feasibility of a permanent program, so that an individual may peaceably deliver and abandon any unwanted firearm or ammunition to any King County Sheriff's Office location.

“We have policies in place for taking in unwanted firearms, but I look forward to working with the King County Council to consider expanding this into a program that will promote community safety throughout King County,” said Sheriff Patti Cole-Tindall.


Read more...

Rally against mass shootings - Sunday in Lake Forest Park

Thursday, June 9, 2022

In honor of the students and teachers who lost their  lives on May 24, 2022, please join the LFP / Shoreline community on Sunday, June 12 for a peaceful rally against school mass shootings.

Gather at Brookside Elementary, 17447 37th Ave NE at 9:45am to walk to Lake Forest Park Elementary, 18500 37th Ave NE at 10am. 

We cannot continue to allow shootings to traumatize Americans and lose innocent lives. We must act, unify, and change the status quo. None of us have been the same since the Uvalde and Buffalo shootings. These can be prevented by reasonable gun laws and we demand action. 


Read more...

Op-Ed: LWV Snohomish County: Curbing Gun Violence: DO SOMETHING

Wednesday, June 8, 2022

The non-partisan National League of Women Voters has supported measures to increase public and school safety and decrease gun violence since 1999. The League believes that “the proliferation of handguns and semiautomatic weapons in the United States is a major health and safety threat to its citizens.” (www.lwv.org)

Data from the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta, GA, note on their Firearms Violence page

“Firearm injuries are a serious public health problem. In 2020, there were 45,222 firearm-related deaths in the United States – that’s about 124 people dying of gun injuries daily." 

Incidents include parents and siblings accidentally shot by children who obtain loaded weapons and school friends shot intentionally by angry children, as happened on October 14, 2014 in Marysville, Washington, just north of Everett. This does not include victims permanently injured and emotionally traumatized or their families and communities.

Regulating who obtains a gun and who can use a gun need not infringe upon any Constitutional rights for adults who use rifles and guns for sports. As many have observed, we require car and truck owners to meet certain criteria for operating motor vehicles. There are ways to support owners of legally-obtained weapons while protecting churches, schools, hospitals and all public spaces.

The League supports:
  • Requiring universal background checks
  • Closing the gun show loophole in the current laws
  • Banning assault weapons and placing limits on high-capacity ammunition magazine sizes
  • Increasing penalties for “straw” (fake buyer) purchases of guns
  • Funding research and reporting on gun violence in America
Such regulation would keep guns in the hands of responsible adult enthusiasts and out of the hands of those who would murder innocent people.

Let’s move from “thoughts and prayers” to action. 

It is long past time to enact comprehensive gun safety reform that protects our children, schools, and communities. Contact your Senators and let them know that you support common sense gun reform legislation and want action taken NOW. You can easily contact them through this action alert from the LWVUS.

The Texas LWV President, Grace Chimene, noted in her May 25 remarks that 
“Gun violence is not partisan. …. let your candidates know that gun violence prevention is important to you and that all lives, especially children’s, are just as important as the Second Amendment.”


Read more...

Superintendent Chris Reykdal’s statement on devastating shooting in Texas elementary school

Wednesday, May 25, 2022

WA State Supt of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal

Statement from Washington state Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal

OLYMPIA—May 24, 2022—The tragic events in Texas today are heartbreaking, pathetically consistent, and deeply tragic. Today, another domestic terrorist took the lives of school-aged students and at least one educator with a firearm, and I offer my deepest condolences to the families, the community, and every American who is crushed once again by an all too familiar headline.

In Washington state, we have worked very hard to enhance physical safety in our schools. We have made substantial investments in threat-assessment protocols and interventions, comprehensive school safety plans and procedures in each school, large financial commitments to student mental and behavioral health interventions, required training for school safety and security staff, as well as in increasing the number of adults in our schools to support students. 

But, make no mistake, the Texas tragedy can still happen here.

To my fellow Washingtonians: Please understand that another round of news, opinion, outrage, and political spin will not change the research. America has one of the highest gun density rates in the world. It results in the highest rates of murder and deaths by suicide from firearms of any industrialized nation. 

Research study after research study continues to conclude that gun density per 100,000 population has the strongest correlation to homicides. The more guns in your community and in your home, the more likely you or a family member will die by gun violence. Murders, suicides, and firearms used in crimes are directly correlated to guns in the home, specifically unsecured firearms.


I will pray for the families who lost their children today, and I will pray that every parent, guardian, and grandparent in our nation will make the impactful decision to remove or secure deadly firearms within their home. There is simply no debate: Our homes are safer when there are no guns inside them.

There will be much debate by lawmakers, as there always is, about more gun safety laws, fewer people accessing guns, and the criminal consequences of using a gun to commit a crime. 

As a father, community member, and our state’s schools chief, I am making a personal appeal to you today to please reconsider gun possession in your home if you are a gun owner today. 

In America, the overwhelming data are clear that gun owners and their families are more likely to die by their own gun than they are to use them in self-defense or protection.

Please join me in considering the deeply personal choice of not keeping a firearm in your home. With our personal choices, we can save lives immediately.




Read more...

Shoreline man arrested for possessing multiple firearms in violation of protection orde

Thursday, April 14, 2022

Kel-Tec Model Sub 2000 9x19mm caliber rifle

Seattle – A 44-year-old Shoreline, Washington man, Rustam Yusupov, made his initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Seattle on Thursday, April 14, 2022 charged with two counts of illegal possession of firearms, announced U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. Rustam Yusupov was arrested without incident late yesterday at his Shoreline residence in the .

According to the criminal complaint, Seattle Police Officers were called to a downtown Seattle hotel room on March 10, 2022, with reports of a distraught man asking the hotel staff for assistance. When the officers went to the hotel room, they noted that furnishings had been overturned, with the mattress moved to block the door. Police found two firearms in the room – including a “ghost gun,” a firearm without a serial number.

Due to his agitated state, Yusupov was transported for medical attention. As officers were preparing to leave the hotel, a staff member working in the garage alerted them to weapons he had seen in Yusupov’s car. In the car were multiple firearms – including two additional “ghost guns.” In all police recovered:
  • FMK Firearms Model AR-1 Extreme 5.56 NATO caliber rifle.
  • Aero Precision Model X15 5.56 caliber pistol.
  • Ruger Model 5.7 5.7x28mm caliber pistol.
  • Ruger Model 18029 Precision 6.5mm Creedmoor/.308 Winchester Caliber rifle.
  • Kel-Tec Model Sub 2000 9x19mm caliber rifle.
  • A North American Arms Corp. Derringer .22 revolver.
  • Two Polymer 80 9mm caliber pistols with no serial number and
  • A skeletonized AR-15 5.56 NATO caliber pistol with no serial number.

Yusupov is the subject of a protection order. He had been ordered by King County Superior Court to surrender all his weapons. In March 2020 and again in May 2021, Yusupov was ordered to surrender his firearms and had signed paperwork and informed law enforcement that he no longer possessed any firearms.

Illegal possession of a firearm is punishable by up to five years in prison.

The charges contained in the complaint are only allegations. A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

The case is being investigated by the Seattle Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF).



Read more...

Legislature bans sale of high-capacity magazines in Washington

Saturday, March 5, 2022

These high capacity magazines were seized in a
2017 raid on a home in Shoreline. Photo courtesy KCSO
OLYMPIA — On Friday, March 4, 2022, the Washington state Legislature passed Attorney General Request legislation sponsored by Sen. Marko Liias, D-Lynnwood, banning the sale of high-capacity magazines in Washington. 

The bill passed the Legislature after a historic 55-42 vote in the House of Representatives. 

It heads to the governor’s desk to be signed into law.

The House version of the bill, HB 1164, was sponsored by Rep. Javier Valdez, D-46.

Senate Bill 5078 prohibits the sale, attempted sale, manufacture and distribution of high-capacity magazines. Like Maryland, it does not prohibit the possession of high-capacity magazines, instead focusing prospectively on the supply side.

“Today is the fulfillment of years of hard work from so many,” Attorney General Bob Ferguson said. 
“More than five years ago, I stood with the parents of shooting victims, legislators, mayors, police chiefs and representatives from faith communities to say enough is enough, and proposed banning the sale of high-capacity magazines in Washington state. 
"Today, our Legislature chose public safety over the gun lobby, and I am deeply appreciative of their service. This policy will save lives and make our communities safer from gun violence.”

“For too long we have accepted gun violence as an inevitable part of life,” said Liias. “My own community was impacted by gun violence in 2016, when three young lives were lost due to a mass shooting. 

"Today," Liias said, "the Legislature took long overdue action to protect families across Washington from that harm by restricting the sale of high-capacity magazines. This is a commonsense policy that will save lives, and I am grateful for all of the years of advocacy that led to its passage.”


Washington will join nine states that already restrict high-capacity magazines. With Washington’s legislation in place, more than 100 million people will live in states that block the sale of magazines with more than 10 rounds.

Ferguson has been pursuing this legislative reform since September 2016. On July 30, 2016, a 19-year-old used an assault weapon and a high-capacity magazine to kill three students and seriously wound a fourth. In September 2016, Ferguson stood beside parents of shooting victims, legislators, mayors, police chiefs, and representatives of the faith community and vowed to continue proposing legislation to ban the sale of high capacity magazines every year until it passed.

The Washington State Medical Association, the Parent Teacher Association, the Washington Education Association, the Governor’s Office and many others have joined gun violence prevention groups, including the Alliance for Gun Responsibility, Grandmothers Against Gun Violence, Washington Ceasefire and more to support the bill.

More information here.



Read more...

Lynnwood, Washington man sentenced to 10 years in prison for gun and drug trafficking

Saturday, September 11, 2021

A 39-year-old Lynnwood, Washington, man was sentenced Thursday, September 9, 2021 in U.S. District Court in Seattle to 10 years in prison for federal charges stemming from his drug and gun trafficking, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman.

Jose L. Casablanca and co-defendant, Jessie N. Cruz, were arrested in late July 2020, following a lengthy undercover investigation. In May 2021, Casablanca pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, possession of a machine gun, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. 

At the sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge Robert S. Lasnik said, “This is your last chance… When you come out in your 40s you will have missed many events with your daughters.” Judge Lasnik urged Casablanca to choose a new path.

“This defendant sold heroin, methamphetamine, and fentanyl, three of the most deadly and addictive controlled substances available, that have ravaged communities and families in Western Washington,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Gorman. “Add to that his firearms trafficking – including possessing a machine gun – and this defendant has demonstrated he is a danger to the community.”

Records filed in the case detail how two detectives with the Snohomish Regional Drug Task Force (SRDTF) posed as drug and gun buyers to gather information about the pair’s drug trafficking activity.  

The undercover detectives made purchases of heroin, methamphetamine, and fentanyl pills from Casablanca and Cruz. They also purchased a fully automatic firearm, classified as an illegal machine gun, and other firearms from the pair. 

Casablanca is a convicted felon and prohibited from possessing firearms, so the two discussed with undercover officers how Cruz transported the guns to the sale location so that Casablanca would not be caught with a firearm.

Casablanca and Cruz confided to the undercover detectives where they had hidden a massive amount of fentanyl in their Lynnwood home. On the day they were arrested at a regional airport, they met with yet another undercover officer who was posing as someone who could get them access to a pill press to make fentanyl tainted pills from their large stash of the potentially deadly drug. 

A court-authorized search warrant at the Lynnwood home resulted in the seizure of large amounts of heroin, fentanyl, multiple firearms, and ammunition, as well as body armor.

At the time of their arrest, law enforcement searched the Maserati the couple used in their drug trafficking activities and found both narcotics and a firearm.

Co-defendant Cruz was sentenced in April 2021 to seven years in prison. Both will be on three years of supervised release following prison.

The case was investigated by the Snohomish Regional Drug Task Force and the United States Marshals Service Violent Offender Task Force, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF).

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kate Crisham.


Read more...

Shoreline Police: Firearm stolen from vehicle

Thursday, September 2, 2021


Unfortunately, we've had another firearm stolen from a vehicle. We're looking for this individual who we believe is responsible.
 
On Thursday, August 23, 2021 at 7:50am, a King County deputy was dispatched to the 1500 block of NE 166th Street in Shoreline.
 
Deputies contacted the homeowner, who told them that someone had broken into his vehicle overnight, which was parked in the driveway.


The victim went outside to his car that morning and found that someone had opened the trunk. When he looked inside his car, he saw that the glove box was open and the vehicle's interior was a mess. Missing items include a firearm, a pair of sunglasses, and a gym bag of clothing.

The victim's neighbor provided these photos. The footage shows a white male wearing a reddish plaid shirt, a white undershirt, and blue jeans get out of a silver/grey Lexus RX and walk onto multiple properties on the street.


The footage captures the suspect male carrying the victim's gym bag, along with another bag. He leaves the area in the Lexus.
 
We would like to remind people never to leave their firearms inside their vehicles.
 
We would like to recover this stolen weapon. If you can identify the individual shown here, contact our non-emergency number at 206-296-3311 and reference case #C21026420.

--King County Sheriff's Office



Read more...

Moms Demand Action (against gun violence) Wear Orange events Friday and Saturday as part of nationwide effort

Wednesday, June 2, 2021

Orange the Overpass on 145th Friday

On Friday, June 4, 2021, as part of Wear Orange Weekend and following National Gun Violence Awareness Day on June 4, volunteers with the Washington chapter of Moms Demand Action, in partnership with the Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund, will host a Wear Orange event to honor the lives of those affected by gun violence and elevate gun violence prevention efforts nationwide.

The Washington event will include volunteers and supporters of gun violence awareness raising attention to this important public health crisis.

Folks will be waving banners at Friday evening commuters spreading the word of June 4th as National Gun Violence Awareness Day and #WearOrange weekend.

Friday June 4th -  ORANGE THE OVERPASS at 145th over I-5, starting at 3pm 
Register here or just show up 

Saturday June 5th - 10am-12pm - Ronald Bog Park - SIGN WAVING AT THE PONIES
https://act.everytown.org/event/wear-orange-2021/41412/signup/

Wear Orange originated on June 2, 2015 -- what would have been Hadiya Pendleton’s 18th birthday. Orange is the color that Hadiya Pendleton’s friends wore in her honor after she was shot and killed in Chicago at the age of 15 in 2013.

In 2020, the number of people killed by gun violence exceeded 40,000 – the highest rate of gun deaths in two decades. But as gun violence has grown, so too has the movement to stop it.

The Wear Orange campaign asks everyone in America who wants to save lives from gun violence to do one simple thing on June 4, National Gun Violence Awareness Day: Wear Orange. 






Read more...

AG Ferguson: Court rules against NRA; voter-approved Initiative 1639 is constitutional

Thursday, September 3, 2020

Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced that a federal judge in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington ruled that Initiative 1639 is constitutional and will remain law in Washington state.

The voter-approved initiative made several changes to Washington laws on semiautomatic rifle purchases, including strengthening background checks and requiring waiting periods for purchases of semiautomatic assault rifles.

Judge Ronald Leighton, a President George W. Bush-appointed federal judge, granted Ferguson’s motion for summary judgment ruling that I-1639 does not violate the Constitution. The law implemented the same enhanced background checks, waiting periods, and purchasing requirements for semiautomatic assault rifle purchases that have long been in place for handgun purchases.

Judge Leighton decided a trial was unnecessary to resolve the case. In order to rule on summary judgment, there must be no genuine dispute over any material fact, and the judge views the evidence in the light most favorable to the party opposing summary judgment. In other words, the judge viewed the facts in a light most favorable to the NRA and the other plaintiffs in the case, and still upheld the initiative.

More information HERE





Read more...

Shots Fired: King county prosecutor releases report on gun violence for first half of 2020

Tuesday, August 4, 2020

Tuesday the King county prosecutor released stats on gun violence in King County from the first half of the year as part of their “Shots Fired” project, launched in 2017.


Their report:

We know violence is contagious. By tracking and analyzing gun violence in our county this groundbreaking project provides critical insights aimed at empowering a public health approach to gun violence prevention and intervention efforts.

The data show the number of overall shooting victims (140) is up 21% from the three year average (115) with a 44% increase in the number of people killed from guns and a 16% increase in the number of people who were shot and survived.


Our analysis also makes clear gun violence is an equity issue— shooting victims were disproportionately young people of color. Of the 140 shooting victims from 2020 Q1-Q2, 87% were male; 42% were under the age of 25; and 73% were people of color.


Our office is in partnership with three community-based organizations to fund violence prevention services, and we secured state funding for a project aimed at using this data to prioritize community engagement with those most at risk of gun violence.

Read the full report here




Read more...
ShorelineAreaNews.com
Facebook: Shoreline Area News
Twitter: @ShorelineArea
Daily Email edition (don't forget to respond to the Follow.it email)

  © Blogger template The Professional Template II by Ourblogtemplates.com 2009

Back to TOP