Double homicide in Leschi
Two men were murdered in the 500 block of 29 Avenue South in the early morning hours of June 1, according to Seattle Police spokesperson Officer Patrick Michaud.
Officers responded to multiple reports of shots fired near South King Street and 29th Avenue South and arrived in less than a minute. Two young men were found lying in the street, both of whom suffered gunshot wounds.
Seattle Fire Department medics quickly responded but pronounced the two men dead at the scene.
Witnesses reported seeing a black or silver vehicle fleeing the area, but no description of the shooter was given.
Homicide detectives and CSI detectives are investigating this incident.
Anyone with information about this case is encouraged to call 911 or Homicide Detectives directly at (206) 233-5000.
Two other men were killed in the same neighborhood in late April. A 20-year-old man was fatally shot near 28th Avenue South and South Lane Street on April 24. A 36-year-old man died from gunshot wounds two blocks south of there, at 28th Avenue South and South Charles Street, the following night.
A car was stopped and impounded in relation to the second shooting because of a bullet casing found in the front passenger seat and a bullet hole in the rear bumper; the driver and his passengers — all in their 20s — were interviewed and released, pending further investigation, according to The Seattle Times.
[UPDATE, 6-4-14: Matalepuna Malu, 26, whom SPD identified as a suspect in the day of the double murder, turned himself in to police at the downtown headquarters on June 1. He was booked into King County Jail, with his bail set at $1 million.
SPD has said the incident is not gang-related and that neither of the victims had a criminal history or is suspected of any wrongdoing.
Malu has been previously convicted of burglary as a juvenile and of illegal gun possession as an adult. He has also been investigated for the murder of an Everett man in August 2010, as well as gang-related drug distribution in the Everett area, according to U.S. District Attorney Jenny Durkan.
At the time of the shootings, he was out on $10,000 bail for a harassment charge in Snohomish County.
Investigators are still gathering information on this case; anyone with information is encouraged to call (206) 233-5000.]
[UPDATE, 6-5-14: Seattle Police are now looking for additional suspects in this case, which some media outlets are saying may be a hate crime because one of the victims is gay.
Malu, the suspect in custody, is also under investigation for an assault that happened prior to the double murder, though police don’t think the two cases are related.
Also, police found a victim’s car abandoned on Wabash Avenue South and South Cloverdale Street in Southeast Seattle on June 3. The car was towed to gather more information about what occurred.]
[UPDATE, 6/5/14, 4:50 p.m.: Seattle Police have identified a second suspect in this case and are now seeking the public’s help locating him.
Ali Muhammed Brown, 30, is a 190-pound, black male, who stands at 5 feet, 9 inches and has brown eyes. Brown is believed to be a transient who has previously frequented the South King County area.
According to The Seattle Times, in March 2012, Brown pleaded guilty and was sentenced to a year in jail for communication with a minor for immoral purposes. He had been initially charged with first-degree rape of a minor after Kent police say he sexually assaulted a young child several times.
He is considered armed and dangerous.
If you see Brown or know where police can find him, call 911 or the SPD Homicide Tip Line at (206) 233-5000 immediately.
Detectives are still working to identify any other possible suspects in the case.]
[UPDATE, 6-12-14: According to a KING-5 report, police no longer consider Matalepuna Malu a suspect in the double homicide. Investigators confirm that Malu is seen on surveillance video at a casino at Pacific Highway South and 192nd Avenue South at the time of the shootings.
Police are still seeking Ali Muhammed Brown, a transient often seen in South King County, as a suspect.]
[UPDATE: 6-13-14: According to The Seattle Times, police served a search warrant on a home near North 130th Street and Aurora Avenue North in connection with suspect Ali Muhammed Brown. He was not found there, but police collected evidence from the home.
Police say they found Brown’s fingerprints in victim Ahmed Said’s car, which had been moved after the two victims were killed.]
[UPDATE, 6/26/14: The Seattle Times is reporting suspect Ali Muhammad Brown is hiding out in Pierce County, according to the Seattle Police Department.
Police believe Brown shot the two victims at close range and then took victim Ahmed Said’s car, which was found abandoned in Southeast Seattle two days later. Brown’s fingerprints were found in the vehicle, leading him to be named as a suspect.
Anyone with information about Brown’s whereabouts is encouraged to call 9-1-1 or the Homicide Tip Line at (206) 233-5000.]