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Police investigate two home invasion robberies within three days Second incident results in one man hospitalized with gunshot wound, KPD not sure if the two are linked BY RAECHEL DAWSON rdawson@kirklandreporter.com
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26-year-old Kirkland man was transported to Harborview Medical Center Sunday night after he was shot at his home
around 10 p.m. in an apparent home invasion robbery in the Juanita neighborhood. Two armed males forced their way into his residence in the 12000 block of 102nd Court N.E. The victim was with
his girlfriend when the invaders “pistol whipped” him before he was taken outside and eventually shot. The woman heard the weapon fire and found the man with gunshot wounds to the arm and torso. The suspects
fled the scene on foot. “We all heard the shots,” said neighbor Chris Villarosa. “I heard a guy yell for help and then my cousin saw a guy running.” The victim was transported to the hospital by
Kirkland Fire AID Unit for treatment and is in stable condition. Kirkland police describe the incident as a “home invasion robbery” but would not say what was taken. It is unknown whether
the victim knew the suspects. “If anyone heard or saw anything please contact the police,” Det. Alan O’Neill said. Following the incident, the Kirkland Police Department located a vehicle in which three [ more POLICE page 2 ]
Juanita High grad remembered at Redmond VFW few months prior. Friends, family and the fire department gathered around For many, mid-August two planted trees on Aug. 16 symbolizes hot weather, with plaques and patriotic beaches and a lackadaisical flags at the Redmond Veterlife style. But for Kirkland ans of Foreign Wars site to resident Linda Clanin-Swan- remember the young men berg, this time of the month for their time served. The reminds her of the last time mothers spoke of their loss she saw her son. and thanked John Kenny of “He came home seven the VFW for organizing the years ago for two weeks in event. August on pre-deployment Both leave,” Swanmothers are berg said. “He volunteers with was just really VFW. anxious to help Kenny his buds. I’ve decided to never seen him plant the trees so eager and after Swanberg ready to just do showed him what he would a tree that been trained to her coworkdo for the last ers at the City nine months.” of Redmond Lance Cpl. planted last Juanita High School Shane Swanyear. Swangraduate Shane Swanberg berg told his berg is the fire was memorialized in this mom in 2005 prevention pencil portrait by Michael he’d see her in administrator “seven short Reagan. MATT PHELPS, Kirkland assistant of Reporter months” but Redmond. was killed just “You’re not 10 days after supposed to his deployment to Ramadi, outlive your own children,” Iraq in early September. He said Redmond Mayor John was 24 when he died. Marchione, who knew SwanBellevue resident Robyn berg when her son was lost. White shares a similar White said the memotragedy after her son, Joeseph rial was meaningful to her White, died on deployment because she knows “he’s in Afghanistan in 2009. being remembered and not Joeseph had gotten married a [ more MEMORIAL page 5 ] BY RAECHEL DAWSON
rdawson@kirklandreporter.com
Officials, bottom left, investigate the cause of a fire that took place early Friday morning. MATT PHELPS, Kirkland Reporter
Second fire in a week destroys apartments on Market Street Police officer, bystander first on scene to evacuate building, no one hurt BY MATT PHELPS mphelps@kirklandreporter.com
For the second time in a week the Kirkland Fire Department was called to a residential structure fire. The blaze occured in the 800 block of Market Street in downtown Kirkland early Friday morning and damaged six apartment units. No residents or firefighters were injured. “The damage is mostly to the exterior but there is some on the interior,” said Kirkland Fire Department Battalion Chief Greg Picinich. Firefighters received the call at 3:14 a.m. but a Kirkland police officer was the first on scene. The officer, along with a bystander, worked to evacuate numerous tenants from the building. The first Kirkland Fire
Department units to arrive found tall flames on the exterior of the threestory building. Firefighters from Redmond, Bellevue and Bothell also responded to the blaze. Market Street was closed in both directions for about two-and-a-half hours early Friday morning. The northbound lanes remained closed throughout the morning while investigators searched through the damaged building for a cause. One apartment unit was destroyed by the fire, while three more units had fire damage on the inside. Two more units had smoke damage, said Kirkland Fire officials. Picinich said that all of the residents of the apartment building who were displaced have found temporary hous-
Firefighters work to put out flames in the 800 block of Market Street in downtown Kirkland. KIRKLAND FIRE DEPARTMENT ing through family or friends. The Puget Sound region has recently been in an excessive heat warning. Temperatures reached into the 90s for the second consecutive day on Friday.
“Clearly when it is hot like this everything is more susceptible,” Picinich said. “The heat is always a factor.” Fire officials said that the high temperatures can fuel structure fires but [ more FIRE page 2 ]
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