NEWS GLEAMS | 2 Dead in Shooting Outside Rainier Beach Nightclub; Seattle Welcomes New LGBTQ+ Protections on Transgender Day of Visibility

On March 30, a shooting outside Capri Bar and Restaurant — a Rainier Beach hookah lounge and nightclub — left two men dead. A 25-year-old man was arrested by the Seattle Police Department (SPD) in connection with the shooting and booked into a King County jail for two counts of investigation of murder. Circumstances leading up to the shooting are not yet known, and the investigation is ongoing.

SPD first responded to a call around 3:30 a.m. in the 9200 block of Rainier Avenue South, where officers found a security guard injured from gunshot wounds. While rendering aid to the security guard, they found another man nearby who had a gunshot wound to the head. The second man was later pronounced dead at the scene by the Seattle Fire Department. The security guard was transferred to Harborview Medical Center in critical condition, but doctors were not able to save his life.

Just one month prior, a large fight at the same location also led to another man being shot in the chest.

On March 25, the Seattle City Council Public Safety Committee released a new potential ordinance that would regulate late-night lounges that operate after 2 a.m., after the city's bars close. The proposed ordinance would "require lounges to be up-to-date on all city permits and licenses, maintain two security guards and have video surveillance, draft a safety plan, and allow entry by police officers." Venues that do not comply would be fined $1,000 for the first violation and $5,000 for later violations.

Unveiled by City Councilmember Bob Kettle (District 7), chair of the Public Safety Committee, in collaboration with City Attorney Ann Davison and Mayor Bruce Harrell, the ordinance is not yet law. It may be referred to the full council for a vote as early as April 8.

Also on March 25, the Office of City Auditor released a report titled "Four Recommendations to Better Understand and Address Current Gun Violence Patterns in Seattle." Citing an increase in gun violence within the past decade — including a "sustained post-pandemic increase" between 2020 and 2024 — the report is designed to help the City of Seattle and the Seattle City Council understand City-funded interventions and whether they are aligned with existing gun violence problems. It was initially requested by Harrell and Councilmember Sara Nelson.

Calculating gun offenses between Jan. 1, 2021, and Dec. 31, 2023, the report found that District 2, representing South Seattle, by far outnumbered all other districts in gun-related offenses, with 1,012 incidents. District 1, which includes West Seattle and Georgetown, ranked second with 639 incidents, and District 3, representing the Central District, ranked third with 434 incidents.

The report found that the City lacks a mechanism for reporting gun violence patterns to City departments, elected officials, and community stakeholders, and that it lacks access to data that would be helpful for addressing and understanding gun violence. However, the Office of City Auditor believes SPD has the ability to "perform sophisticated diagnostic and geospatial analyses related to gun violence in Seattle," and thus suggests a solution for creating a citywide "systemic framework for reporting gun violence patterns."

Citing examples of success from Baltimore, Milwaukee, Las Vegas, and Newark, the report also calls for using "problem analysis and an 'all-hands-on-deck' approach to addressing gun violence." It defines "problem analysis" as the type of practice that identifies "key people, places, and behaviors most likely to be involved in violence," upon which the City can build a foundation for "directed, effective gun violence strategies," and suggests that the City of Seattle undertake deepened practices in problem analysis.

In honor of Transgender Day of Visibility (TDOV), Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell signed into law new legislation that strengthens protections for gender-affirming and reproductive health care in Seattle. The legislation was created in collaboration with LGBTQ+ City employees and the Seattle LGBTQ Commission.

Harrell had announced new legislation on March 5 that was designed to reaffirm Seattle as a welcoming city by "supporting access to reproductive health care services and gender-affirming treatment in Seattle," as well as "extending the responsibility of City employees to protect the provision of reproductive health care services and gender-affirming treatment." It added a new Chapter 14.115 to the Seattle Municipal Code and cited that the City recognizes the inherent worth and equal rights of all LGBTQ+ individuals who reside in, work in, or visit Seattle.

The laws come just days after a violent attack upon a transgender individual in the University District neighborhood, when a group of men allegedly attacked the individual while saying anti-transgender slurs. The victim was able to escape and seek shelter in a nearby business.

A 39-year-old man was arrested for the crime, which left injuries upon the victim that "included a bruised and swollen eye, broken teeth, scrapes to the hand, and pain in her abdomen," according to the Seattle Police Department (SPD).

SPD continues to search for other suspects, and the investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information, photos, or video of the incident is asked to contact SPD via the SPD Tip Line at 206-233-5000 or email at SPD_HateCrimes@Seattle.gov.

This Tuesday and Thursday, Wa Na Wari, a Black-centered arts space and gallery in the Central District, will be hosting its community meal program. Free meals will be provided to all interested community members, with Chef Kinnetta Johnson on Tuesdays and Chef Lakea Osias on Thursdays.

Stop by Wa Na Wari (911 24th Ave.) on Tuesday, April 1, or Thursday, April 3, between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. to get your free meal! More details on Wa Na Wari's Instagram.

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