Councilmember Maritza Rivera (District 4) released a statement on the stabbing that occurred in the University District:

“Today’s fatal stabbing of King County Metro bus driver Shawn Yim is a horrible tragedy, and I want to convey my deepest condolences to his family, and all his co-workers. Our public servants should never be subjected to this type of danger while doing their jobs. This awful incident occurred on the heels of Metro announcing the closure of bus stops in another part of town because of ongoing public safety concerns.

“We must be able to keep our public servants and residents safe while riding public transit. This tragedy and other public safety concerns in the D4 and around the city are unacceptable. Public safety has and continues to be a primary focus for me and this Council. It is why my colleagues and I have passed almost a dozen pieces of public safety legislation in the last year, and why I supported Councilmember Saka adding funding for transit safety in the budget. And we are seeing some progress. The Seattle Police Department has been receiving the most applications to the force since 2019. More work needs to be done, and I will continue to partner with my colleagues.

“I spoke with SPD Chief Sue Rahr today, and I know Seattle Police are doing everything they can to apprehend the suspect, and I will continue to work with them and support them as best I can.”

For the latest updates on the investigation, please visit the Seattle Police Department blog.

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