Numbers show increase in Federal Way gun violence

Published 10:36 am Wednesday, May 11, 2016

After three more Federal Way murders this week, there’s no denying the city has seen an increase in gun violence in 2016.

From January 1 to May 11 in 2016 there have been five homicides involving a gun. There were three total in all of 2015. Twenty-three total cases of assault with a firearm have occurred since the beginning of this year – the total for all of last year was 24.

And the community has noticed.

“While I’m of course concerned about safety at schools, I’m also anxious about kids’ ability – or inability – to be out in the community, whether it’s driving, playing basketball or walking to Fred Meyer,” said Erin Herringshaw, a Federal Way Public Schools employee. “We hope to live in a community where these freedoms are taken for granted.”

Prior to this week’s deadly shootings, Herringshaw was among more than 100 Federal Way citizens who questioned Mayor Jim Ferrell and Police Chief Andy Hwang about gun violence at an April 13 Neighborhood Connection meeting.

The community was shaken after 16-year-old Wesley Gennings was shot to death by two teenagers in February and again when Jeffrey McLaren, 19, was killed in April. Gennings was found with a gunshot wound to the back of his head in a vehicle and McLaren was found between two vehicles in an apartment complex after being shot multiple times.

This week, a 26-year-old man, a 27-year-old man and a 30-year-old man were also found dead with gunshot wounds. The 26-year-old was shot in the back and was found at an apartment at 1 a.m. on Monday. The 27-year-old was found in a vehicle at approximately 11:30 p.m., also on Monday. The 30-year-old was shot multiple times at around 11 p.m. Tuesday night. Between the homicides was also a shooting that appears to have been accidental that sent a 21-year-old man to the hospital with a gunshot to the chest.

“There has been an upsurge in gun-related crimes across the country,” Hwang said in a news release addressing gun violence. “Our region reflects that trend. Regrettably, Federal Way is also caught in this crossfire.”

According to neighboring police agencies, there’s not quite the uptick elsewhere. Tacoma police reported seven homicides this year compared to 16 total last year. Auburn police reported one homicide to date in 2016, compared to a total of six (with eight victims) in 2015. Des Moines has had two this year and one last year. There have been three Renton murders in 2016 compared to four in 2015. Kent police report no homicides this year and five in 2015. Fife police have had zero this year and one last year. Milton had zero this year and zero last.

“Regarding two of our recent homicides, some of the causations (such as illegal drug use) may be similar, but they are not otherwise related,” Hwang said. “Homicide investigations take considerable time, so they are in their infancies.”

Hwang and Ferrell, in a joint statement released Tuesday, said the Federal Way Police Department is addressing the increase of gun violence in three ways:

• The police department will add more patrols in crime-affected areas.

• City law enforcement will partner with the King County Prosecutor’s Office for Data-Driven Prosecution, meaning they will identify and “vigorously prosecute gun violence offenders” by working with regional agencies. This means higher bail and harsher penalties for “relatively minor crimes.”

• The city will schedule a “coalition/forum community meeting” to support youth and reduce violent crime. The first internal group meeting will be held next week with a public meeting to follow, although there’s no set date on when that will be.

“There is no greater responsibility of a mayor than to keep their residents safe, and public safety is my number one priority,” Ferrell said in the announcement. “We will do everything we can do to address the increase in gun-related crime. It is important to understand that these crimes are unrelated and present their own unique challenges. We are fortunate to have outstanding police force and the men who put their lives on the line for us each day have my full support and confidence.”

Herringshaw realizes there are no easy answers to ending gun violence, but she applauds the city’s efforts as a good first step.

“We are… aspiring to increase communication among the stakeholders in the city, including law enforcement, the school district, the City Council and parents/guardians of our youth,” she said. “We’d like to explore methods that could potentially augment all of our safety.”