Staff Reports
Seattle, Washington is reeling today from the senseless tragedy that has claimed 6 lives so far after a gunman shot 5 people in a Seattle coffee shop,killing four of them, then one in an apparent carjacking. Many Albany residents are joining them today after learning that one of the reported victims, Kimberly Lynn Layfield, was from here.
Layfield graduated from Riverview Academy in 1992. Among her classmates was Journal publisher Tom Knighton.
“I didn’t get the news last night. I got it this morning and immediately broke down,” Knighton said. “Kim was a special person. People say that a lot after a tragedy like this, but it’s really true with Kim.”
Layfield and five other Seattle residents were killed when Ian Stalwicki reportedly open fired after being told to leave by the Racer Café by staff. He then allegedly shot and killed another woman in what police describe as a “carjacking”. Seattle Police Asst. Chief Nick Metz told King 5 TV News in Seattle, “We feel very confident that we have the suspect in both incidents.”
Stalwicki later killed himself when police moved in to apprehend him.
Layfield’s Facebook page filled up with comments from friends and former classmates still in shock at the news. However, a call to the King County Coroner’s office resulted in the Journal being told that they were not releasing the names of any additional victims at this time.
This latest tragedy comes on the heels of the death of Marine Lance Corporal Steven Sutton of Leesburg to what has been reported to be an improvised explosive device in Afghanistan.
The Journal will continue to follow this story as more information develops.
Editors note: An earlier version mistakenly reported the number slain at the coffee shop as five, with an additional death later on.
