Community Post

Kids Killed Over Hurt Feelings

There’s a good article in Seattle PI today that provides some more information about local gangs and their connection to several recent shooting deaths in the city.

Most shocking is a quote from Nancy Gratton, a community activist here in the CD, who says that even small slights can bring out the weapons:

No longer, Gratton said, are street wars waged over drugs or turf battles, as in years past. Today, something as vague as perceived disrespect can trigger a shooting. “When that’s the issue, I wonder where it’s going to go — what’s going to happen next,” she said.

As we learned yesterday, much of our recent violence has been triggered by friction between two gangs, the Deuce 8s, who are headquartered around Flo Ware park at 28th & Jackson, and the LPs (“Low Profile”). We’ve heard conflicting information whether the LPs are a CD gang or a South Seattle gang, but the PI article seems to tie them directly to the CD.

Here’s three recent homicides that have ties to the gangs:

  • Antwon Horton, 19 years old – Reportedly a member of the LPs, he was killed in the Rainier Valley on August 28th of last year when he and two friends ended up in the same house with some members of the Deuce 8s. All three were shot, and Horton later died of his injuries. The good news is that the suspected killer in that case, Demario J Dilliard, was arrested in the AM/PM parking lot last Friday, and was formally charged with the murder yesterday. (PI says he got “caught up in the moment” of the shooting). Coverage of that incident can be found here, here, and here.
  • Allen Joplin, 17 years old – A member of the Deuce 8s, he was killed at birthday party in Lower Queen Anne on January 3rd. It was his memorial that several people reported seeing at Flo Ware park. There’s been no apparent progress in finding his killer.
  • De’Che Morrison, 14 years old – Possibly a member of the LPs (confirmed repeatedly below that he was not in LP), he bled to death under a car in the Rainier Valley after being shot on January 10th. Apparently there is a suspect in this case but he remains at large.

Way too many young lives are getting torn up by this mess, and it’s only a matter of time until an innocent bystander is caught in the middle of one of these shoot outs.

0 thoughts on “Kids Killed Over Hurt Feelings

  1. Your Google Map lists Martin Luther King Way S as Empire Way S. We haven’t called that street Empire for decades.

  2. I understand from discussions with some officers at the East Precinct that Low Profile considers East Union part of it’s domain.

  3. i dont appreciate having my cusin labled as a gang member still after he is deacesed let him rest in peice for everybody also does it mattrer if your in a gang or not it does. it matters that someones loved one was shot and killed

  4. antwon and allen were my friends and id apprieciate if youd let them rest in peace. and yes the violence does need to stop, to many of my friends are dying over dumb stuff. and east union is NOT apart of the LP domain, that is completely wrong, LP is on 19th and jefferson.

  5. DECHE MORRISON WAS NOT APART OF LP HE WAS FROM SOUFCLOVERDALE THIS SHIT IS HELLA WRONG

  6. TOO BAD yALL GOT 3V3Ry THiNG WRONG D3CH3 [STR33Tz] WAS NOT FROM NOBODy’S LP H3 WAS TOO SOUF-3ND!

  7. This is bullshit he wasn’t in lp he was hella cool i went to school with him he was hella cocky but nobody ever deserves to die i love and miss him RIP my homie De’Che Moorison