Federal Way News

Woman dies after shooting at Federal Way church

Submitted by Martha Kang on Wednesday, March 17th, 06:03pm

A woman has died following a shooting at a local church late Wednesday afternoon.

Police spokesman Ray Bunk said the woman and her husband were attending a counseling session at the Calvary Lutheran Church at 2415 S. 320th St. when the man pulled out a gun and shot her several times just before 6 p.m.

Bunk said it wasn't immediately clear whether the shooting took place during or just after the counseling session, but the man himself called 911 afterward and waited for police and medics to arrive.

"We're unsure how many witnesses we have," Bunk said. "Right now, (we don't know) how many were in the room or even in the area. We're identifying and interviewing all those witnesses."

The 38-year-old Lakewood woman was taken to Harborview Medical Center, where she died. Her name has not been released.

The 42-year-old Lakewood man has been taken into custody.

Members of the congregation gathering for a scheduled soup supper, a Lenten tradition on Wednesdays, learned of the tragedy as they arrived at the church. Many grew teary-eyed over the incident at their place of worship.

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911
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Pooh Williams named WAC Defensive Player of the Year

Submitted by Morris Malakoff on Wednesday, March 17th, 08:00am

The Deseret News is reporting that Utah State basketballer Pooh Williams was named the Western Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year,

Williams, a 6-3, 200-pound junior guard/forward from Federal Way became the first Aggie ever to be named to the WAC's all-defensive team.

During the season, Williams is averaging 9.0 points, 2.4 assists and 1.8 rebounds per game, while shooting 45.9 percent from the field, 37.6 percent from three-point range and 58.6 percent at the free throw line.

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Fallen soldier profiled in 2001 news story

Submitted by KOMO Staff on Tuesday, March 16th, 11:57am

Erin L. McLyman, the Federal Way soldier recently killed in Iraq, was profiled in a 2001 news story by our sister station in Eugene, Ore., where McLyman went to high school.

In the interview, McLyman spoke about her struggle to kick drug and alcohol addiction, as well as plans to join the military after graduating.

McLyman's husband said it appears she was killed in a mortar strike, although the Department of Defense has released no official details about her death.

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People

Your city needs your help to help Mother Earth

Submitted by Morris Malakoff on Tuesday, March 16th, 08:43am

Next month is Earth Day. If you or your group or organization are looking for a meaningful way to commemorate the occasion, the City of Federal Way has three volunteer opportunities for you.

1. Cold Creek headwaters (near Federal Way High School).

Need 2 to 12 volunteers for around 6 man hours or 15 kid hours of labor to dig, pull and cut blackberries growing along a stream channel and plant around a dozen plus native trees and shrubs. This is close to FW High School adjacent to a residential street.

2. Unnamed stream running thru the Dumas Bay II residential development (1/2 block east of Hoyt RD. SW between SW 316th Pl. and SW 314th Pl).

Need 12-75 volunteers for around 30 man hours or 75 kid hours of labor to dig, pull and cut blackberries along a stream channel and plant around two dozen native trees and shrubs. This work is close to residential streets.

3. S. 308th St.

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Soldier from Federal Way dies in Iraq

Submitted by KOMO Staff on Monday, March 15th, 03:41pm

As a member of the Irish Heritage Club, John Keane is always fully prepared to offer-up Seattle's Irish history.

“Well,” he says with a laugh. “How long do you have?”

Keane is one of the club’s elder statesmen, and as such, is very aware of Ireland’s impact on this Emerald City.

“The Denny’s left Ireland in the 1700’s, and their grandson, John Denny, drove the wagon train west on the Oregon Trail,” Keane’s history lesson begins. “And it was his (John’s) son who came north to become the first non-native settler in Seattle.”

And there's Irish mayor John Collins...

“And we still have the Collins building down on 2nd Avenue beside the Smith Tower,” Keane continues.

“The entire city and the parishes throughout the city were peppered with Irish names,” recalls Heather Murphy, whose family moved here in the 1940’s. “An awful lot of them were in my neighborhood in Wallingford. There were Riley’s and Sullivans and Daughertys…”

So Heather, what does it mean to be Irish in Seattle in 2010?

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People

Chen appointed to State Board for Community and Tech Colleges

Submitted by Morris Malakoff on Monday, March 15th, 08:38am

A long-time member of the Highline Community College Board of Trustees has been appointed by Gov. Chris Gregoire as the newest member of the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges.

Elizabeth Chen of Federal Way has served on the Highline Community College (HCC) Board of Trustees since 1995. She was the HCC Board chair in 2001-2002 and 2006-2007.

Chen has been appointed to serve a four-year term as one of nine members of the Board, responsible for overall policy, leadership, and strategic direction of the community and technical college system.

Chen is a visiting instructor of Chinese at the University of Puget Sound.

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FW man beaten in Lewis County; dies in Federal Way

Submitted by Associated Press on Monday, March 15th, 08:25am

A 58-year-old Federal Way man is dead after being beaten in Lewis County, and a relative has been arrested for investigation of second-degree murder.

Lewis County sheriff's deputies said Monday they learned of the assault when they received a phone call from Morton General Hospital on Sunday. The victim was driven away from the hospital in a private car and brought to a hospital in Federal Way, but did not survive.

Chief sheriff's deputy Stacy Brown says the man's 42-year-old relative, Erik Robert Massa, was arrested Sunday for investigation of second-degree murder in the assault.

The attack occurred Saturday night in Randle.

An autopsy was being conducted on the victim Monday at the King
County Medical Examiner's Office.

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Crime

Man arrested for assaulting 4-year-old stepdaughter in November

Submitted by Ray Marcham on Saturday, March 13th, 04:07pm

A 27-year-old man was charged Friday with attacking his four-year-old stepdaughter in November when she wouldn't stop crying.

However, the child's mother, his wife, didn't tell authorities about the incident until this month, when Child Protective Services had started an investigation after someone noticed bruises on the child.

The Tacoma News-Tribune says that Sean Madigan is charged with second degree assault on a child and first degree criminal mistreatment. He is accused of cutting the child's chin after a potty training incident and picking her up, covering her mouth and nose with his hand to stop her from crying and dropping her on the floor when she didn't during another incident.

Madigan's wife told police that he repeatedly abused the child. It isn't known why she didn't turn him in sooner.

Madigan's next court appearance is March 24 at the Regional Justice Center in Kent. He is being held on $250,000 bail.

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Crime

City hosts free urban disaster preparedness presentation

Submitted by Morris Malakoff on Friday, March 12th, 10:25pm

The City of Federal Way Emergency Management Division will help prepare you to face urban disasters with a special presentation from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, April 29 at City Hall, 33325 8th Ave. S.

• Urban hazard considerations. Reuniting families who may be separated at the
time of a disaster (work, school, daycare). Large-scale sheltering or evacuations.
Increased likelihood of disease outbreak and vermin activity from lack of proper
sanitation and clean water. Possibility of rioting and looting. Stray animals, and
care of domestic pets.
• Your response plan and urban considerations. Disaster-response priorities in
urban settings are different than those in suburban or rural settings. The City will
give tips on how should you factor urban hazards and response priorities into your
personal disaster plans. The City will also advise you on the steps you can take
now to better prepare and protect your family in an emergency.

Registration is required and will be taken up to April 28. To register or for more information, contact Ray Gross by e-mail or phone (253) 835-2712.

Photo: A man carries debris from his collapsed house in Tubul, Chile. An 8.8-magnitude earthquake struck central Chile Feb. 27, causing widespread damage. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)

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Federal Way man sentenced to 23 years for 1984 Seattle murder

Submitted by KOMO Staff on Friday, March 12th, 05:02pm

A 51-year-old man has been sentenced to 23 years in prison for a 1984 murder that was finally solved last year using DNA evidence.

Norah T. Gracey, 70, a retired seamstress, was found stabbed and strangled to death in a bedroom of her Rainier Valley home on Aug. 12, 1984. But her murder remained unsolved for decades.

Daryl Spencer Hart of Federal Way was arrested in August after he was linked to the crime by a DNA test. He pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in January.

The prosecutor asked for a 25-year sentence, and the judge handed down a prison term of 23 years, 4 months.

According to court documents, Hart was Gracey's next-door neighbor at the time of the murder, when he was 25.

Hart's mother, Queen Hart, a good friend of Gracey's, became concerned when she hadn't seen Gracey for some time.

So Queen Hart and her son, along with another neighbor, went into Gracey's house to check on her. They found her dead on the bed with blood surrounding her head.

An autopsy later determined that Gracey had been strangled and stabbed to death, according to court files.