Seattle police said a 17-year-old boy murdered a 45-year-old woman in Seattle’s Maple Leave neighborhood on Tuesday morning.
They got the call at around 8:30 a.m. and responded to Roosevelt and Northeast 105th Street and said it was the teen who made the 911 call.
“The person who called 911 said they had assaulted someone inside. That person was immediately taken into custody,” said Detective Patrick Michaud with the Seattle Police Department.
Three neighbors, including one who lived upstairs from the pair, said the relationship between the victim and suspect is mother and son.
“As we looked inside, there was a woman deceased on the floor. She was clearly dead,” Michaud said.
Neighbors said the mother and son have lived in the neighborhood for about two years. Multiple people said the woman was deaf, and her son often translated for her.
Those who knew the victim described her as a kind woman who did not deserve this ending.
The murder marks the 40th homicide in the city of Seattle so far this year — a dramatic uptick.
Michaud said there were 25 murders at this time last year, meaning a jump of 60%.
“It just really makes me sad to see this happen over and over again,” said neighbor Dylan Wilbanks.
In fact, with the COVID-19 pandemic forcing people to stay home, police departments across the Puget Sound have noticed an uptick in felony domestic violence assaults.
Bellevue police reported it’s seen a 28% increase.
Compared to last year, King County prosecutors are filing twice as many domestic violence homicide cases.
The King County Sheriff’s Office reported murders are up in their jurisdiction too — 19 so far this year, compared to that many all of last year.
“Months being in your house, and you can’t leave,” said Cathy Fuller, another neighbor.
“It just makes me really sad that we’ve reached this point where we can’t get out. We can’t find ways to relieve that stress,” Wilbanks said.
Police are urging if you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, make that call for help, as it could save a life.
You can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline: 800-799-7233. If you need help immediately, call or text 911.
“They can boil over very quickly. And in a case like this, sadly, it ends in homicide,” Michaud said.
Police said they arrested the juvenile without any incident.