SEATTLE — An arrest was made Monday in connection to a deadly stabbing at the Capitol Hill light rail station over the weekend.
According to the Seattle Police Department, a 26-year-old man was arrested in Eatonville. He was booked into King County Jail.
The neighborhood is grieving the loss of the victim, a chef at the well-known Capitol Hill restaurant, Harry's Fine Foods.
Police said shortly before 6 p.m. Saturday, the 37-year-old was stabbed multiple times in the Capitol Hill light rail station. He was taken to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
"They've done a lot of good work in the area and they're always warm and accepting and open to our little fury friends and making sure we're comfortable and cared for," said Rochelle Rapaszky, who lives nearby.
Rapaszky has lived in Capitol Hill for 20 years and said Harry's Fine Foods holds a special spot in the community.
"We're all heartbroken. I don't think anybody takes this lightly, no matter who it is, but when it hits your community, it's just a little extra, you know, and it's hard because you want to reach out to folks and support them and also give them their space. We'll do what we can to take care of each other," said Rapaszky.
Saturday marked the third homicide to happen in the light rail's 15-year history. The previous incidents include a shooting at the Westlake station in 2019 and a shooting in February on board a train near Pioneer Square. Officials with Sound Transit said as of February 2024, there have been 47 assaults on light rail. During that same time, there were 3.4 million riders.
A spokesperson with Sound Transit sent KING 5 an emailed statement regarding Saturday’s deadly stabbing:
“The safety of our passengers and staff is Sound Transit’s top priority. We take any event that threatens the safety of our passengers and staff very seriously. The stabbing at Capitol Hill station was horrifying and tragic, and we mourn the loss of this person’s life. We also know this alarming and tragic act understandably raises very real safety concerns. Even though violence around and on our system is exceedingly rare, passengers and staff want to know that they are safe when they are riding our trains.”
Sound Transit is committing $250 million to security contracts over six years. Officials said on-site security presence has nearly doubled since 2022.
In a statement, the owners of Harry's Fine Foods described the man killed as a devoted individual who infused his passion into each and every dish he crafted.
It's a place where the community is now coming to lay flowers and notes to help cope with the loss.
"We're thinking of everybody and we have them in our hearts to take all the time they need. We're here when they come back And there's no rush. Grief is not a linear process," said Rapaszky.
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