MYNORTHWEST NEWS

Seattle community centers to close briefly for meetings on last week’s shooting

Mar 13, 2013, 10:41 AM | Updated: 10:49 am

Charges are expected Wednesday against Carolyn Piksa, 46, in last week’s shooting at a Seattl...

Charges are expected Wednesday against Carolyn Piksa, 46, in last week's shooting at a Seattle Parks Department maintenance facility. (SPD photo)

(SPD photo)

All of Seattle’s community centers and recreation facilities will close Wednesday for several hours so employees can meet with Parks and Recreation department leaders and counselors about last week’s shooting at a department maintenance facility.

Carolyn Piksa, 46, is accused of shooting 65-year-old Bill Keller, director of the non-profit that manages city recreation centers Friday in north Seattle, before threatening another employee at a nearby community center. It prompted the lockdown of all city community centers.

Piksa was tracked to her home in Burien and arrested later Friday.
King County prosecutors are expected to file assault charges against her Wednesday. She is being held on $1 million bail.

Keller remains in serious condition at Harborview Medical Center.

Piksa worked as an assistant coordinator for community centers and has been a Parks and Recreation Department employee since 1986. But officials have not disclosed their relationship or a motive for the shooting.

The community center meetings, between 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. Wednesday afternoon, will give the recreation staff time with their management team and with counselors. Affected facilities are community centers, pools, environmental learning centers and the Amy Yee Tennis Center, said spokeswoman Dewey Potter.

MyNorthwest News

The Three Queens Fire near Snoqualmie Pass and Kachess Lake increased to more than 800 acres this w...

Tom Brock

Racing the Flames: Fast-growing wildfire forces evacuations near Snoqualmie Pass & Kachess Lake

A lightning-caused wildfire six miles west of Snoqualmie Pass is growing and threatening cabins at the north end of Kachess Lake.

8 hours ago

The tiny eyes of about 20 cats are focused on a Tacoma police officer as he snaps a shot of them on...

Tom Brock

How 30+ cats survived on an abandoned Tacoma boat

Officers say they responded after receiving reports from people who spotted a lot of cats on a sailboat anchored just off Owen Beach, on the northern tip of Point Defiance Park

11 hours ago

mount rainier white river sunrise wildfire...

KIRO 7 News Staff

Sunrise and White River entrance at Mount Rainier closed due to wildfire

The White River entrance to Mount Rainier National Park is closed until further notice due to a fire in the park.

15 hours ago

The Fox Network logo is displayed. (Photo: Frederick M. Brown, Getty Images)...

Katrina Guischard

Exhausted FOX13 news anchor, mom of 2 goes viral for dozing off on-air

A morning news anchor and mom of two is going viral after appearing to briefly fall asleep during a live broadcast.

17 hours ago

Starbucks (3)...

MyNorthwest Staff

Starbucks shutters another Seattle store as closures and layoffs mount

Starbucks has closed another store in Seattle, this time downtown.

1 day ago

seattle traffic...

Nate Connors

Major sports events, full closure on I-405 will make for very busy Seattle commute all weekend

This weekend around the Seattle area might go down as one of the busiest of the summer for the Washington State Department of Transportation.

1 day ago

Seattle community centers to close briefly for meetings on last week’s shooting