King County Metro, community gathers to honor driver who was murdered

King County Metro employees, bus drivers from across the region and community members gathered Friday to remember driver Shawn Yim who was murdered last month.

Yim’s memorial took place at Lumen Field with several speakers.

Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) International President John Costa passionately called for more safety aboard transit lines, saying the union’s complaints have gone on for too long.

“Not one more of us should be attacked or treated like we’re being treated,” he proclaimed.

ATU International President John Costa passionately calls for more safety aboard transit lines, saying the union’s complaints have gone on too long. https://t.co/dCQT4MxlRA pic.twitter.com/bHvIoTbhrR

— Sam Campbell (@HeySamCampbell) January 10, 2025

Costa added everyone needs to pull together to prevent these crimes from happening.

“This is a tragedy that should not have happened,” he said. “Sean should have been home for the holidays, just like all of us were home for the holidays.”

Local ATU 587 President Greg Woodfill echoed Costa’s sentiment.

“We cannot survive and thrive in this area without safe transit,” he said. “We all need to roll up our sleeves and figure out how to accomplish that.”

Woodfill urged the public to continue demanding public safety in transit.

“Tragically, transit workers feel like their cries for help have mostly fallen on deaf ears until now,” he said.

This is a “public safety problem,” said the bus operator union’s local president, Greg Woodfill.

“Tragically, transit workers feel like their cries for help have mostly fallen on deaf ears until now,” he said before urging the public to demand public safety on transit. pic.twitter.com/Y1IUa9Gq98

— Sam Campbell (@HeySamCampbell) January 10, 2025

Woodfill read a letter from Shawn Yim’s family, describing him as a loving husband and uncle, along with being a proud member of the Seattle community.

“Sean was the son of this city, having attended McClure Junior High School, Garfield and Foster High Schools, and ultimately earns his BA at WSU,” he shared.

Jen Mayer works for King Metro and said her coworkers feel vulnerable.

“Anybody else working the night shift?” she said. “Police officers go out in pairs, firefighters respond as a truck, even if you’re in the all-night diner, you’ve got colleagues and other people. When you’re on the bus, you’re alone, and anybody can walk in.”

Washington Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal said the memorial was to remember Yim but added, “We also gather to express our deep commitment to ensuring that this never happens again.”

Jayapal also called for change.

“Because at the end of the day, we need to make sure that every worker feels safe on the job and knows that they can return home at night to their family and their community that love them and that they love,” she emphasized.

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King County Metro procession blocks Seattle traffic

On Thursday, King County Metro said to expect bus cancellations throughout the Seattle area. On Friday, drivers facilitated a bus and transit vehicle procession through Seattle to honor Yim. The event started in SODO at 10 a.m., headed north to the Seattle Center along 4th Avenue and then back down to Lumen Field through the downtown tunnel.

#bus procession to honor slain Metrobus driver Shawn Yim… stabbed to death on his route before Christmas. Buses and drivers from all over the region and #Canada. @KIRONewsradio @Mynorthwest pic.twitter.com/0xtj51FXhV

— Luke Duecy (@LukeKIRO) January 10, 2025

Bus drivers traveled from across the region to join the procession, with several even coming from Canada.

More bus procession…@KIRONewsradio @Mynorthwest pic.twitter.com/7Y878AJJbn

— Luke Duecy (@LukeKIRO) January 10, 2025

The procession was followed by the memorial event hosted by the Amalgamated Transit Union 587 at Lumen Field Event Center, according to a news release from King County Metro. Doors opened at 9:30 a.m. with the event running from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The memorial service for slain King County Metro bus driver Shawn Yim has started. pic.twitter.com/IwkFqXk68J

— Sam Campbell (@HeySamCampbell) January 10, 2025

As hundreds of employees were expected to leave work to attend Yim’s memorial, Director of Communications and Marketing at King County Metro Transit Sean Hawks suggested checking King County’s website for updated transit times.

“It’s not just implications for traffic downtown — the number of operators and other metro employees who are participating means we’re going to have some very, very high service cancellations on Friday morning,” Hawks told KIRO Newsradio Thursday.

#SPD ready to lead the bus procession through #Seattle for slain #Metrobus driver Shawn Yim – stabbed on his route right before Christmas. His memorial service will follow. @KIRONewsradio @Mynorthwest pic.twitter.com/IlJxEiiPlU

— Luke Duecy (@LukeKIRO) January 10, 2025

Yim was stabbed last month by suspect Richard Sitzlack, report police

Yim was working as a bus driver when he was allegedly stabbed to death by 53-year-old Richard Sitzlack after an argument over a closed window on December 18.

A witness told police Yim pulled over and asked Sitzlack to get off the bus after he became belligerent. Sitzlack then allegedly pepper-sprayed Yim, grabbed him and took him behind an alley where he allegedly stabbed him.

Sitzlack was arrested on Saturday and pleaded not guilty in court on Monday. Sitzlack was charged with first-degree murder with a deadly weapon enhancement and second-degree and third-degree assault in the stabbing of Yim, the KCPAO announced in a statement emailed to members of the media, including KIRO Newsradio. The court set bail at $5 million at the KCPAO’s request.

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In King County Metro’s new release, the agency said, “safety continues to be our agency’s top priority.” King County Metro added it has more than doubled the number of transit security officers — from 80 to over 170. It also said it plans to hire more Metro Transit Police.

“We need to mourn Shawn’s brutal murder,” Woodfill said. “We need to mourn the loss of him, and then we need to pay (him) respect.”

For more information on Yim’s memorial service and procession, visit King County Metro’s website.

Contributing: Heather Bosch, Sam Campbell, Luke Duecy and Nate Connors, KIRO Newsradio

Julia Dallas is a content editor at MyNorthwest. You can read her stories here. Follow Julia on X and email her here.