t

Renton man hunted down man in Seattle with knife, prosecutors say

Faces first-degree murder charge for Seattle stabbing

King County prosecutors have charged a 59-year-old Renton man in the stabbing death of a 38-year-old man in Seattle’s Belltown neighborhood.

Prosecutors say James D. McClinton Jr., 59, hunted down and killed Devon Guion on Sept. 22 at a residential facility in the 100 block of Cedar Street in Seattle.

Prosecutors filed a felony charge of first-degree murder on Sept. 28 in King County Superior Court against McClinton, stating McClinton killed Guion with premeditated intent.

According to an affidavit of probable cause, surveillance footage of the incident showed a physical altercation between McClinton and Guion prior to the stabbing with the two men pushing and shoving each other in front of McClinton’s apartment. After the altercation, Guion headed for the elevators as McClinton retrieved a knife from his apartment.

Taking the adjacent elevator to the first floor, McClinton searched for Guion outside the front of the building prior to walking back inside. At the elevator lobby area, one of the elevators opened. McClinton looked into the elevator to find Guion alone. McClinton “immediately” lunged into the elevator and attacked Guion with the knife, according to documents.

The King County Medical Examiner’s Office’s autopsy of Guion, conducted on Sept. 25, showed a deep slashing injury to the right arm that hit bone, and a stabbing injury to the upper torso that hit Guion’s aorta, resulting in significant bleeding into the left chest cavity. The medical examiner determined the stab wound served as the cause of Guion’s death.

McClinton stepped around Guion and he lay face down bleeding on the floor and fled the scene on foot, according to prosecutorial documents.

Seattle police were dispatched to the building at approximately 5:10 p.m. after receiving a call from a staff member of the facility.

Officers arrived and located Guion in the elevator lobby area on the first floor of the building. First responders pronounced Guion deceased in the ambulance at the scene, according to the affidavit.

Police arrested McClinton four days after the stabbing on Sept. 26 in the 500 block of Fifth Avenue in Seattle, according to arrest documents.

McClinton holds a criminal history dating back to 1983, with convictions including robbery in the first degree, burglary in the second degree, theft in the first degree, and more.

McClinton remains in jail on $3 million bail, according to an email from Casey McNerthney, director of communications for the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. The court scheduled McClinton’s arraignment for Oct. 11.


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 Northwest

Courtesy Photo, Renton Police
Enumclaw man charged with March murder in Renton

Suspects are accused of duct-taping victim’s face before burglarizing his home.

t
Child’s death leads to multiple charges for Federal Way father

Woo Jin Hahn is currently in jail with a bail of $5 million.

Map of some scheduled protests in the Puget Sound area. (Screenshot courtesy of nokings.org)
‘No Kings’ rallies scheduled across King County on June 14

The nationwide effort is intended to protest recent actions and policies by the Trump administration.

File Photo/Sound Publishing
How to prepare for increased wildfire risk this summer

The Department of Natural Resources has tips on how to protect property.

Renton City Hall. Courtesy photo.
Renton Police Guild files lawsuit against city

The suit claims that the city prohibited the guild from using surplus funds for a health savings account.

Courtesy Photo, WSDOT
Brief overnight SR 167 closures this month in Renton, Kent and Auburn

June 8-9 in Kent; June 9-10 in Renton and June 12-13 in Auburn

t
Small plane crashes into Lake Washington near Renton

No injuries in Sunday, June 1 crash just north of Renton Municipal Airport

Kshama Sawant says she is running against Adam Smith, D-Bellevue, next year for the 9th District Congressional seat. COURTESY PHOTO, Kshama Sawant
Seattle socialist Kshama Sawant to challenge Adam Smith

Announces run in 2026 election for 9th District Congressional seat

Demographics of crime victims in King County from the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. Courtesy photo.
King Co. 2024 crime stats show more women victims

County prosecutor supports more funding for crime victims.

Officer Richard “Rick” Klein being inducted as a Federal Way officer in Sept. 2018. File photo.
Federal Way settles in harassment case against police officer

Lawsuit alleges that officer sexually harassed a student during basic training academy.