Man shot, killed in third Federal Way shooting

FEDERAL WAY, Wash. — One man is dead as a series of shootings plagues Federal Way. It's the third shooting in just four days and the first murder in the city all year.

Now it's sparking action from the city's mayor who is directing the police department to increase patrols.

A 36-year-old man was shot and killed early Sunday morning at a gas station on Southwest Dash Point Road at 312th Street.

He is the only person to die in this recent spate of shootings.

There is very little evidence of the deadly shooting that happened in this gas station parking lot that is like a second home to those who live nearby.

"I'm here almost every day," said Joseph Hooker, who lives nearby. He says he was concerned about the store owner.

"Yes," he said. "He just said it was a shooting."

Hooker said he drove by the scene on his way to work.

"I seen (sic) the vehicle," he said. "I seen (sic) everything taped off. And I knew something wasn't right."

Federal Way police aren't saying much about the shooting. They say there was a dispute of some kind. Then just after 2 a.m. Sunday, someone pulled a weapon and fired.

A 36-year-old man was mortally wounded. He later died at Harborview Medical Center.

"It's tragic," said Federal Way Mayor Jim Ferrell. "It is, really."

Then he filled in the details.

"It was a situation where he and another friend were sitting in a car," he said, "completely in what appears to be a random (case)."

Ferrell says the people involved did not know each other.

"They did not," he said. "That's what at least what we know at this stage."

It has been a violent few days in Federal Way.

A 14-year-old girl was shot in the leg while watching an altercation here Wednesday. A 17-year-old boy was shot in the head during "Fright Night" at Wild Waves Theme Park on Friday night.

Both of them survived.

The shooting at the gas station has been recorded as the city's first murder of 2019.

"Numbers are cold comfort to the individuals that have been victimized and had a family member victimized," said Ferrell, a former King County prosecutor. "And what the community should know we're going to roll up our sleeves and put all hands on deck. We're going to capture these folks."

That is a promise the mayor made several times. Still, his officers have their work cut out for them. They have made no arrests in these shootings.

Anyone who knows anything about the shootings is asked to call the Federal Way Police Department.

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