A screenshot from private surveillance footage provided by the Seattle Police Department shows a suspect engaging with the occupants of a vehicle on Feb. 9, 2021, in Seattle. The suspect shot the vehicle’s two occupants, one fatally, before he was killed by police. File photo

A screenshot from private surveillance footage provided by the Seattle Police Department shows a suspect engaging with the occupants of a vehicle on Feb. 9, 2021, in Seattle. The suspect shot the vehicle’s two occupants, one fatally, before he was killed by police. File photo

King County gun violence keeps soaring in 2021

69 shooting victims in first three months, 16 of them fatal

Firearm violence in King County, and especially in South King County, continues to soar in 2021 with increases in shots fired incidents as well as fatal and nonfatal shootings.

The number of shots fired incidents (253) in the first three months jumped 25% from the four-year average (2017-2020) for the first quarter, according to the King County Firearm Violence Report released April 27 by the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.

The number of shooting victims (69) jumped 27% from the first quarter average. The number of fatal shootings (16) was up 36% and the number of nonfatal shootings (53) up 24% from the four-year average.

“We are continuing the very disturbing trend of 2020 in the first three months of 2021,” King County Prosecuting Attorney Dan Satterberg said during a virtual interview about the statistics compiled from more than 20 law enforcement agencies. “I had a gut feeling things were worse. This helps me confirm my gut.”

Another statistic indicating an increase in violence is county prosecutors filed 90 murder charges in 2020 after averaging about 56 murder charges per year in the previous 10 years.

“We are on pace to do that again this year,” Satterberg said of the high number of murder cases. “Bottom line, 2020 was an unexpectedly violent year and 2021 continues that trend.”

The majority of the shots fired data comes from eight agencies: Seattle, Auburn, Des Moines, Federal Way, Kent, Renton, Tukwila and the King County Sheriff’s Office (including unincorporated King County and 16 contract cities). These eight agencies account for roughly 79% of the county’s population.

In the first quarter of 2021, 68% of the shots fired and 71% of the shooting victims (fatal and nonfatal) were from agencies outside of Seattle, according to the report. That’s a jump from the four-year average in which 60% of all shots fired and 58% of shooting victims were from agencies outside of Seattle.

“Kent has had a tremendous amount of homicides (eight) already in 2021,” Satterberg said. “Some of it seems so trivial, (such as) fights over a parking spot in an apartment complex.”

Satterberg said such a case is evidence of anxiety and anger in society. He said some of the shootings are by people with felony records who legally aren’t allowed to carry a gun.

“People who carry guns who shouldn’t be carrying guns often feel like their only option is to use them when they have been challenged in some way that insults their pride,” Satterberg said.

People carrying guns sometimes end up using them against each other.

“People think if they have a gun they can defuse a situation, but that doesn’t work if the other person also has a gun,” Satterberg said.

The report also shows that gun violence most often strikes males, young people and people of color.

Of the 69 shooting victims in the first quarter of 2021, 80% were male; 42% between the ages of 18 to 24; and 78% were people of color.

“Gun violence follows concentrated poverty and involves young people,” Satterberg said. “Young men of color are much more likely to be victims and perpetrators of gun violence.”

Satterberg said community nonprofits have shown violence interruption can work if people get into programs that steer them away from guns and violence.

In April, the King County Council approved spending $2 million to create a new gun violence prevention grant program to reduce violence through community-based groups.

“We do know people under the age of 24 don’t think about long-term consequences and do risky things,” Satterberg said.

Too many young people turn to violence to solve problems.

“Violence is an act of desperation. …they think the only way to deal with a current situation is to kill another human being,” Satterberg said.


Talk to us

Please share your story tips by emailing editor@kentreporter.com.

To share your opinion for publication, submit a letter through our website https://www.kentreporter.com/submit-letter/. Include your name, address and daytime phone number. (We’ll only publish your name and hometown.) Please keep letters to 300 words or less.

More in News

Screenshot of SUDORS from Dept. of Health website
Dept. of Health launches dashboard to track overdose death data

DOH aims to help communities better understand overdose deaths, make informed prevention decisions

A red-light camera sign at Pacific Highway South and Kent Des Moines Road, one of six intersections where the city of Kent has had cameras since 2019. COURTESY FILE PHOTO, Kent Police
Kent to activate red-light cameras at another intersection

Cameras installed at 108th Avenue SE and SE 208th Street in Panther Lake

File photo.
Dept. of Commerce awards $35.4 million for solar power projects across the state

Projects across King County were awarded millions in collective funding.

Fall City branch of the King County Library System. Courtesy photo
King County Library System receives grant to develop a climate action plan

The National Endowment for the Humanities gave a $133,252 grant to help develop climate initiatives.

t
Slow, swerving driver in Kent leads to DUI arrest by police

Auburn woman, 55, eventually stopped by officers trying to enter Highway 167

File photo
King County Council members encourage people to not drive for a week

The Week Without Driving is meant to put policy makers, elected leaders and transportation professionals in the place of those who don’t have the option to drive.

t
About 135 people at Kentridge High to be evaluated for tuberculosis

Steps taken after one person at school diagnosed with active TB; exposure was March to September 2023

t
Kent house fire on East Hill displaces one person; nobody injured

Fire broke out Tuesday morning, Sept. 26 in 11300 block of SE 215th Street

t
Kent Police safely detain six people during mental health crisis calls

Officers use patience, de-escalation techniques in response to 911 incidents

Most Read