Remembering a friend while searching for his killer
Sep 5, 2012, 11:30 AM | Updated: 3:46 pm
While Seattle homicide detectives are working to catch Yancy Noll’s killer, his neighbors are honoring the memory of their beloved friend.
The Alaska native was gunned down by someone in a silver BMW in the Maple Leaf neighborhood Friday afternoon.
“Sky diving a couple of weeks ago, he showed all of us that video about four times, and he was always hiking and mountain climbing. He loved adventures,” says Jen Mallinger, a neighbor three doors down from Noll.
She says they met through a mutual friend. After hanging out at Noll’s apartment building for a while, Mallinger decided that was where she wanted to make her home. She rented the next unit that became available.
“His door was always open, and his dog, Lola, would always just come bounding out when you walked out of your front door and greet you […] He was just such a caring person. He always wanted to know how my day was,” remembers Mallinger.
Noll grew up in Anchorage, Alaska. He has been in Seattle for the last ten years or so working as a Wine Buyer at the QFC on Broadway.
“He always had a bottle for somebody if you needed one. He was very passionate about wine,” Mallinger says.
The building management plans to install a memorial garden outside Noll’s apartment. A public vigil is being planned for Sept. 7, at 8 p.m. on the corner of NW 75th Street and 15th Avenue NW in Seattle.
Noll’s neighbors are still hoping his killer will be brought to justice.
“We’re just always kind of milling around his door talking to each other about what else we can do to get the word out, so that hopefully they can catch the guy that did this,” says Mallinger.
The case is still an open investigation at the Seattle Police Department. Homicide detectives are working it, but say they do not have any solid leads, yet.
The same unit is also investigating a shooting that happened on a South Seattle street on July 5. According to the victim, a silver BMW pulled up next to him. The occupants indicated they wanted to race. The victim said he tried to ignore them, but the passenger opened fire on his vehicle. He was shot in the leg and the suspect vehicle took off.
Seattle Police say the shooter in both the July 5 incident and the shooting of Yancy Noll are described as Asian males. Both cars are described as silver BMW’s. But, the department tells KIRO FM they do not know whether the shootings are connected.
