SEATTLE — The transit community from far and wide came together to honor Shawn Yim, A King County Metro driver, who was violently killed while working this week.
On Saturday night, nearly 200 people gathered for a candlelight vigil near the University District intersection where Yim died on Wednesday.
“Brother Shawn Yim. We respect you. We love you,” the group said in prayer.
There was a massive show of support for Yim, who was a nearly 10-year veteran of King County Metro.
“I lost a brother and because it could’ve been me could’ve been any one of these drivers here,” said Lawrence Norfleet Sr.
Norfleet told KIRO 7 that Yim was a hard worker and dedicated to his job.
“He was a nice guy everybody liked him. He worked hard,” Norfleet added. “He was just a caring guy.”
Ken Price, who is the Vice President of ATU 587 Local, says Yim would always ask to work extra hours.
“He definitely wanted to take care of his family working nights to be able to make that,” Price said.
Before this tragedy, Price says Yim would express his safety concerns at work.
“He’d come up to me and talked about how bad it is out there driving the bus. It’s changed, Ken. It’s not the same as when you drove,” he said.
It’s a lingering fear that brought out frustrations from fellow drivers.
“We die a little more inside from driving this bus,” one driver yelled.
Drivers told KIRO 7 their lives are at risk daily and Yim was proof of that.
“I got kids! I wanna go back home safely and I know he did too,” another driver said.
The transit union says there needs to be more security and sturdier barriers to protect drivers. They’ve been calling for safer working conditions for years.
“We need accountability, we want to trust. We want to come to work and feel that we’re being heard,” Price said.
King County Metro told KIRO 7 there will be additional transit security officers on Route 70, which is what Yim would drive, for the foreseeable future.