KENT, Wash. — A Kent man has been charged with attempted murder after he allegedly stalked two homeless women before shooting them last year.
James-David Joseph Algarin was charged with two counts of first-degree attempted murder, both counts including a firearm enhancement, on Friday following a year-long investigation.
Algarin was arrested at Sea-Tac International Airport on Thursday and is being held on $1.5 million bail.
“Targeting anybody is a concern but particularly people at random and the most vulnerable in our population. That’s the biggest concern for us,” said Casey McNerthney, with the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.
According to court documents, investigators were able to use surveillance video, phone data and witness statements to identify Algarin as the suspect in two shootings that occurred on April 14, 2022.
The documents said Algarin was captured in surveillance video talking with a woman before shooting at her in an area known for its homeless population. Algarin allegedly returned to the same location later and shot another round at her, striking her at least once. She was taken to the hospital with potentially life-threatening injuries, where she later recovered.
The second shooting occurred less than an hour later. Court documents said Algarin’s vehicle is seen on surveillance video approaching a woman walking down a dark street in Kent. The vehicle was captured following the woman for some time before she can be seen leaning into it and later quickly running away.
The documents said Algarin fired several rounds from different positions and eventually struck the woman’s leg. Surveillance video reportedly shows the woman limping as she tried to flee before being struck by another round in the head and falling to the ground.
At the time, the woman was not expected to survive her injuries but did later recover. The documents said she sustained devastating long-lasting injuries.
“There's often a lot of calculation when it comes to sexual assault, and homeless individuals have less standing, less protections, less credibility, are more vulnerable. All those things factor into a person's decision to intentionally harm and presumably attempt to kill somebody,” Mary Ellen Stone, CEO of King County Sexual Assault Resource Center.
In 2021, the agency served 282 clients experiencing homelessness. Of those, 77% were women.
“Let me just say this is awful. It goes without saying that homeless individuals are particularly vulnerable to all sorts of assault and crime,” Stone said.
Investigators believe Algarin went to his home in between the first and second shooting to obtain his AR-15.
The documents said detectives were not initially able to gain access to Algarin’s phone, which prolonged the investigation. Once accessed, investigators said they were able to use location data to place Algarin at the crime scene.
The court documents also revealed text messages Algarin allegedly sent including "time for a murder" and "less homeless ppl."
“When you’re homeless you’re just scared all the time,” said Anitra Freeman, with WHEEL.'
Freeman has been working with WHEEL a shelter and nonprofit run by homeless and formerly homeless women for decades. She knows firsthand the dangers unhoused women face.
“If you are a woman or you know and love a woman then you know the risk that you feel every day. Think about that. Feel it in your body and dial it up to 100. Please help the women who are feeling that fear,” Freeman said.
Algarin’s first court appearance, where an initial plea is entered, is scheduled for May 4.