Seattle Mayor McGinn pleads to community to help fight gun violence
Apr 26, 2012, 9:24 AM | Updated: Oct 14, 2024, 8:49 am
 Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn told 97.3 KIRO FM’s Ross and Burbank the city needs to the community’s help to fight gun violence. (MyNW.com/Jamie Griswold) |
The city of Seattle has put a face to the latest
death by gun violence to get residents’ attention on an
issue the mayor says requires community support.
“We need the community,” said Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn,
in an appearance on 97.3 KIRO FM’s Ross and Burbank Show.
McGinn said there were witnesses at the scene of the
weekend shooting that killed 21-year-old Nicole Westbrook,
who police say was walking home from a club with her
boyfriend when shots were fired from a passing car.
“We need people to step forward,” said McGinn. “There are
witnesses who need to come forward, and there were
probably other people in that car as well with the
shooter.”
Not only in this case, but in other crimes as well, McGinn
said it’s important that the public share any information
they know.
“There are other crimes in this city where there are
people who knew who had the gun and knew who shot it,”
said McGinn. “More than that, there are people in this
town
right now who know of somebody who has an illegal gun and
may use it. They need to come forward, too. They need
to help us out.”
 Nicole Westbrook was shot walking home from a club Sunday morning. (Seattle Channel) |
Police believe the shooting of Westbrook was random. They
currently don’t have any suspects, but surveillance video
captured from a nearby business has given them an image of
the suspect vehicle.
McGinn said installing surveillance equipment is another
way the community can help police.
“That’s something that building owners can do, is they can
put up security cameras on their building,” said McGinn.
“That tape is oftentimes invaluable in solving that
crime.”
Several forces need to work together if we want to see gun
violence go down, said McGinn.
“It takes a partnership between the city government, the
police department, and the community to prevent crimes and
solve crimes. It just doesn’t happen any other way.”
Westbrook died of complications due to her gunshot wound
at Harborview Medical Center Wednesday. She had moved to
Seattle from Albuquerque three weeks ago to go to the Art
Institute.
“My sister is the most beautiful person that you’ll ever,
ever know and meet, and I’m proud she’s my baby sister,”
said her sister, Marcia.
By JAMIE GRISWOLD, MyNorthwest.com Editor
