Newly released videos show last moments before King County Metro bus driver was murdered

Newly released videos reveal the last moments before King County Metro bus driver, 59-year-old Shawn Yim, was stabbed to death in Seattle University District, a week before Christmas. Police charged Richard Sitzlack with first-degree murder with a deadly weapon enhancement and second-degree and third-degree assault after investigators said he started arguing with Yim and then allegedly pepper-sprayed the driver.

The videos, which include audio and cover two different angles from the driver area and front door of the bus and the middle and rear of the bus, show Sitzlack started arguing with Yim about closing several windows on the bus. After Yim stopped the bus and closed the windows, Yim asked Sitzlack if he paid his fare. Sitzlack told Yim he did and produced a piece of paper from his pocket, however, it is unclear on the video if that paper was an actual bus ticket.

Moments later, Sitzlack is heard attacking Yim verbally and calling him a curse word. Yim stopped the bus again and told Sitzlack to get off the bus. In response, Sitzlack appeared to attack Yim with pepper-spray before the two exited the bus. While the video doesn’t show it, police said moments later Yim was stabbed and died in a nearby parking lot.

County leaders discuss safety after killing of King County Metro bus driver

During a recent safety meeting, King County Council members and members of the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU), the union that represents King County Metro bus drivers, met to discuss potential safety improvements to better protect drivers and riders.

More details: King County Council members, union discuss how to better protect drivers, riders

Since the attack, Local 587 Union President Greg Woodfill has called on the general public to pressure lawmakers to make security improvements on buses and at bus stops for drivers and anyone who rides a Metro bus. During Monday’s special security meeting, he doubled down.

“Enclose the operator’s compartment now,” Woodfill said. “I can’t stress that enough. Let’s start with our operators.”

During the meeting, Woodfill and bus union members described dangerous and violent situations they’ve experienced, including being spat on, slapped and being exposed to smoke from riders using drugs like marijuana and fentanyl. And when drivers pass by bus stops where they observe open drug use, union leaders said they are often punished.

They all added to their security wish list that guards employed by King County Metro and King County Sheriff’s Office deputies enforce rules and laws and arrest offenders.

“Mine would be supporting the operators by holding the offenders accountable,” Local 587 Secretary Latrelle Gibson said.

King County Metro General Manager Michelle Allison explained to lawmakers they are consulting with union leaders about two prototype protective shields that would better protect drivers than the now-installed protective barriers designed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We’re in a very different place right now,” Allison said. “There are two prototypes that meet most of those needs, not all of those needs, but most of them.”

Allison told lawmakers in the meantime they are seeing data that shows, overall, incidents of violence on board buses and at bus stops are down. She cited programs like de-escalation training for drivers and crisis response teams that intervene when a rider or potential rider at a stop may be experiencing a mental crisis for the lower numbers but added there was much more that could and will be done.

King County Council member Reagan Dunn took that sentiment a step further and announced he will soon introduce legislation to create a Regional Task Force on Transit Safety.

“We should treat transit operators like a federal judge or United States Senator or president of the United States for that matter,” Dunn told fellow council members. “If you’re attacked or threatened, that individual is going to go to jail, period, zero tolerance.”

One of the challenges security improvement advocates face is building consensus among lawmakers across the county. King County Metro serves multiple cities and towns that are ultimately responsible for bus safety and security while those buses operate within their borders. Woodfill said in past years convincing all those different municipalities to adopt and pay for a singular safety plan has been difficult.

The violent death of Yim may act as a catalyst for change moving forward.

Hundreds of family, friends, co-workers and lawmakers attended a memorial service for Yim inside Lumen Field Event Center. The service began with a bus procession through the streets of Seattle that included buses and drivers from all over the Puget Sound region and Vancouver, British Columbia. Friends described Yim as a kind person who was dedicated to his job and the people he drove every day.

The suspect, Sitzlack, pleaded not guilty during an arraignment and is being held on $5 million bail.

Previous coverage: Man charged in Metro bus stabbing pleads not guilty

Luke Duecy is a reporter, editor and anchor at KIRO Newsradio. You can read more of Luke’s stories here. Follow Luke on X, or email him here.