A Seattle Juneteenth past (Image: Central District News)

The process to create an honorary Rev. Dr. Samuel B. McKinney Avenue running along 19th Ave between E Union and E Republican connecting the Central District and Capitol Hill moves forward this week with the second of two public meetings on the proposed designation.

And, remember, this is about creating an honorary designation — not the logistically challenging name change the original announcement of the plan described. From City Council member Tom Rasmussen after our original post on the plan:

I am receiving e-mails opposing the honorary sign. Because of what people are writing I think there is a misunderstanding! This is an “honorary sign”. This is not a name change of 19th Avenue that requires map changes and all of that.

Rasmussen provided the example of the “Gerard Schwarz Way” sign on top of the University Street sign at the corner of Second Avenue outside Benaroya Hall.

This week also features Seattle’s annual Juneteenth celebration. The Central Area Chamber of Commerce says it is expanding this year’s event:

Our new name is “Juneteenth International Festival” and this is our first annual event hosted under this name. The Juneteenth International Festival is a three day event taking place June 7th, 8th, and 9th. People will enjoy food, music, and entertainment including plays and poetry. Continue reading →

For details, see our previous post.

Video of the largest group of people playing hopscotch in Seattle history (second largest in the world):

Photos: Continue reading →

The man shot and killed Tuesday evening in the parking lot of the 23rd and Jackson Starbucks has been identified as Brandon L. Williams, 29.

Williams died after being shot in the torso, according to the King County Medical Examiner. Police are investigating the shooting as a homicide.

The security guard told police that Williams and a group of people were fighting in the parking lot on the east side of Starbucks just after 7 p.m. The armed guard, who is contracted to work the area and was on-duty, approached the group and told them to leave.

As some in the group separated and began leaving, Williams allegedly pulled out a gun and pointed it at the people he had been fighting with. He then allegedly turned the gun on the guard, who fired and critically injured Williams.

After being shot, Williams stumbled to the north side of the Starbucks, where he collapsed.

There were at least six bullet casings marked on the ground at the scene. It is unknown whether Williams ever fired his gun, which was found near the spot where he collapsed.

A man in his 30s was transported to the hospital Thursday evening after being shot in the leg near 26th and Spring, police say.

We will update when we learn more.

UPDATE 5/31: SPD says the suspect is a black male in his 20s last seen wearing a black baseball cap and a black sweatshirt.

From the blotter:

Officers continue to search for the suspect in a shooting in the Central District that left one man wounded.

At approximately 5:18 p.m. officers responded to 911 calls of shots fired in the alley behind the 900 block of 26th Avenue.  Preliminary investigation indicates that the adult male victim was exiting his gated yard into the alley when he heard a male voice yell something.  He then heard a single gunshot and was struck in the leg by a bullet.  The victim ran away from the shooter and back into his house. His mother began to drive him to the hospital when responding officers arrived.  The victim summoned the officers for assistance.

The officers called fire department medics to the scene.  The medics subsequently transported the victim to Harborview Medical Center for treatment of his non-life-threatening injury.

Witnesses observed a black male suspect running southbound through the alley with a gun in his hand.  Officers conducted an extensive area search however, the suspect remains at large.

The suspect is described as a black male in his 20′s, last seen wearing a black baseball cap and a black sweatshirt.

Anyone with information about this incident or who may know the identity or whereabouts of the suspect is asked to call 911 or Seattle Police and refer to this incident.  Anonymous tips are welcome.

This remains an active and on-going investigation.