Just one day after a double homicide at a homeless encampment in a Seattle public park, city crews arrived to post notices instructing residents to clear out their belongings.
Chris Meyer, who lives nearby, said it was upsetting to see the park become unsafe, noting, “It’s just a shame to have it tainted or for people to feel unsafe in their park.” He recalled that the city had cleared the encampment earlier in the summer, but it quickly reappeared. “They got rid of all the leftover trash, but the campers came back,” Meyer said, adding that this time “there are more of them.”
Witnesses told authorities they heard two rounds of gunfire before seeing people running from the scene.
The area has long struggled with recurring homeless encampments, and frustration among nearby residents and business owners is growing. Richard Ridout, who operates Lake City’s ‘Lil Tiger’ Ice Cream shop, described the prevailing mood as “despair” because “there’s no action from the powers that be.” He criticized the city’s approach, saying Seattle has a reputation for tolerating lawlessness while still providing support services.
Ridout said the impacts have been personal and costly. His shop has been vandalized multiple times this summer, while other businesses have reinforced their storefronts after repeated break-ins. According to him, even when police are called, the response can be discouraging. “They told us, ‘Call us, but we probably won’t show, but call us so we can keep data.’ We’re not interested in data, we’re interested in results. Seattle doesn’t want to hear it. They don’t listen. They have their way of doing things.”
Police have yet to identify the shooter or release a description, and the victims’ names have not been made public. The investigation remains ongoing.
