Seattle, WA
Man charged in Seattle encampment murder claims self-defense
Man charged in unhoused man’s death claims self-defense
Defense attorneys for Kahmari Hale say he shot an unhoused man in self-defense, however prosecutors claim he went looking for trouble.
SEATTLE – The man accused of fatally shooting a 34-year-old unhoused man in Seattle’s Mount Baker neighborhood over the summer appeared in court Thursday.
Kahmari Hale, 20, faces charges of second-degree murder for the death of Johnathan Stutson, with prosecutors alleging he taunted and targeted the unhoused before the shooting. Stutson was killed at a Seattle homeless encampment in July.
Hale entered a not guilty plea. His attorney requested a bail reduction from $2 million to $200,000, emphasizing that Hale, a lifelong Washington resident with no criminal record, is not a flight risk or a threat to public safety.
However, prosecutors argued against the bail reduction, saying Hale poses a danger to the community.
“The facts of this case are concerning,” the prosecutor stated. “The defendant and others allegedly taunted residents at the encampment, threatened violence, and ultimately fired 13 shots at Mr. Stutson.”
According to court documents, Hale and his group were at a homeless encampment near South Walker Street and 25th Avenue South around 4:24 a.m.
Witnesses say the group shouted threats, including statements about “airing out” the camp, before Stutson confronted them. Surveillance footage captured the sounds of the altercation, with Hale reportedly firing shots that hit Stutson multiple times. Police arrived shortly after and found Stutson with ten gunshot wounds; no weapons were found on or near him.
The defense argued that Hale acted in self-defense, claiming he feared for his safety as Stutson moved his hand toward his hip in a way that Hale interpreted as threatening. Hale reportedly told police he closed his eyes and fired, feeling the man was close enough to cause harm. Yet, Hale also admitted that Stutson did not overtly threaten him or display any weapons.
“Mr. Hale is extremely young, he just turned 20 and has no history of violent behavior,” his defense attorney argued. “He has strong ties to Washington and was actively participating in school activities prior to his arrest.”
Hale was reportedly an active student, involved in sports like football, baseball, and wrestling, and took classes at a local restorative center. His family was also present in court.
“He’s a part of the legacy group where they help other students on campus, he participated in classes at the restorative center,” Hale’s defense said.
Melissa Herrera, also unhoused, claims to have witnessed Hale’s actions that night.
“They were yelling at all the homeless, waking them up, ruffling the tents, telling them to get up,” Herrera said. “He didn’t expect them to shoot him like they did.”
The judge expressed concern over the “troubling nature” of the allegations, describing Hale’s actions as alarming. He denied the request to lower bail.
If convicted, Hale faces 15 to 24 years in prison. The firearm used in the incident remains unrecovered, allegedly taken from Hale weeks after the shooting.
An omnibus hearing is scheduled for December 5 and trial on the 20th.
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Seattle, WA
Seattle Mariners re-assign 3 players to minor league camp
The Seattle Mariners re-assigned outfielder Brennan Davis, right-handed pitcher Dane Dunning and left-handed pitcher Jhonathan Díaz to minor league camp on Friday.
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Seattle’s spring training roster is now at 38 players, with 33 from the 40-man roster, four non-roster invitees and one player on the 60-day injured list.
Davis, 26, had been one of the Mariners’ surprise standouts during camp after arriving on a minor league contract. The former top prospect went 12 for 34 over 15 games while producing a .353/.450/.824 slash line with a 1.274 OPS, four homers, four doubles, six RBIs and five walks to 11 strikeouts.
Dunning, 31, was also in camp on a minor league deal. He allowed four runs on five hits and five walks while striking out four over 6 1/3 innings in three appearances. The right-hander also pitched for South Korea during the World Baseball Classic, surrendering two runs over three innings in three apperances.
Díaz, 29, was a non-roster invitee to spring training. He pitched three scoreless innings, struck out two and didn’t allow any hits or walks in two spring outings. The left-hander was on World Baseball Classic champion Venezuela’s roster but did not appear in a game. Díaz made one appearance for the M’s last season, pitching 1 1/3 scoreless innings.
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Seattle, WA
Cal, Randy team up in Seattle Mariners’ 6-run inning – Seattle Sports
Cal Raleigh and Randy Arozarena are officially Seattle Mariners teammates again, and if you need proof, just look at the box score.
Seattle Mariners name Logan Gilbert opening day starter
The two players who were at the center of a controversy last week during the World Baseball Classic both drove in runs as the Mariners put up a six-spot on the Athletics on Thursday night in Cactus League play.
Arozarena came off the bench with runners on second and third with one out in the top of the seventh inning, and he reached on an infield single that gave Seattle its first run of the game, cutting the A’s lead to 3-1.
And Arozarena, who hit his first homer of the spring on Wednesday, wasn’t done. He then stole second, which allowed him to score the second of two runs on a Ryan Bliss single that tied the game.
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A few batters later, after a Brock Rodden single and Luke Raley hit by pitch loaded the bases, it was Big Dumper’s turn, and he delivered with a bases-clearing double off the tall wall in center field at the Athletics’ spring home, Hohokam Stadium in Mesa.
That capped the inning and the scoring for Seattle in a 6-4 victory.
Perhaps it’s a sign that the handshake that never happened when Arozarena stepped to the plate for Mexico with Raleigh catching for the USA is behind the two Mariners All-Stars. As they say, winning cures everything.
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• Seattle Mariners’ Luke Raley showing he’s worth keeping an eye on
Seattle, WA
Cesar Chavez name to be removed from Seattle garden after abuse accusations
SEATTLE — César Chávez’s name will be removed from a Seattle institution after newly public sexual abuse allegations.
At El Centro de la Raza in Seattle, Executive Director Estella Ortega said a garden named for Chávez would be renamed and that other tributes at the building would also change.
“The farm worker movement is bigger than just one person,” Ortega said. “We’ve got a garden named after him, those things will change.”
A photo of the garden on March. 19, 2026. (KOMO){ }
The renewed debate in Seattle follows a New York Times report published this week that detailed allegations Chávez sexually abused women and girls, including fellow labor leader Dolores Huerta. The revelations have prompted officials and institutions around the country to reconsider Chávez commemorations, with California leaders backing a proposal to rename César Chávez Day as Farmworkers Day and other communities moving to review streets, schools and monuments that bear his name.
In Washington, Gov. Bob Ferguson already said he will not issue a proclamation for César Chávez Day this year and instead plans to celebrate Dolores Huerta Day on April 10.
Asked Thursday whether he would press local agencies to remove Chávez’s name from places such as the garden outside El Centro, Ferguson said the state had already decided to stop honoring Chávez in the ways he directly controls, while broader changes would require more discussion.
“My view is the movement’s bigger than any one individual,” Ferguson said. “The farm worker movement did so much for farm workers, for labor rights, for human dignity. It’s bigger than any one person.”
Ferguson said he had met with Ortega and lawmakers before speaking publicly and described the allegations as so serious that many people were still “reeling” and trying to decide what would be appropriate next.
Seattle’s César Chávez Park, in the South Park neighborhood, is managed by Seattle Parks and Recreation. Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson, when asked about the park, did not indicate a change would be immediate.
State Sen. Rebecca Saldaña said Latino leaders in Washington were urging that this year’s March 31 observance move away from celebration and instead focus on community service, survivors and the broader farmworker cause.
“At this moment, I think the Latino Democratic caucus will be saying, we need to pause,” Saldaña said. “This March 31 this year should be about community service. It should be about making sure that the farm worker movement and the farm worker cause is what’s centered.”
Saldaña stopped short of immediately endorsing a permanent name change for the holiday, saying it was still too soon and that leaders should follow survivors’ lead. But she said she expected more conversations about accountability, healing, and how public spaces should be named going forward.
Across the country, those conversations are already underway. The Associated Press reported Thursday that communities and institutions nationwide are distancing themselves from Chávez, identifying more than 130 sites that bear his name, including parks, schools, and other public landmarks.
For Ortega, the question in Seattle was more immediate.
“We cannot just let the lie continue to live in our way,” she said.
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