Denny Teens Attacked on the Way to School

From the West Seattle blog;
Two eighth-grader girls from Denny International Middle School say older boys/men “grabbed and pushed” them on Monday. That’s according to this letter just sent to Denny and Chief Sealth International High School families by Denny principal Jeff Clark (who shared it with WSB) and Sealth principal Aida Fraser-Hammer:
Dear Denny and Chief Sealth Scholars and Families,
This morning, two of our 8th grade female scholars reported to us that they were approached by two males on their walk home yesterday near SW Trenton St. and 22nd Ave SW. They reported that the males followed them and then grabbed and pushed them towards a yard.
Our scholars did a great job by screaming, getting away, and running off. Our scholars believed that the males were in their late teens and approximately 5’7”. Both of the males had their jackets zipped up partially blocking their faces and had hoods on, so we have a limited description.
Our scholars did the right thing by screaming, getting away, and telling an adult at home and at school. The families reported the incident to the Seattle Police Department last night and they are investigating today. The Seattle Police and Seattle Public Schools staff will both be providing extra presence in that area.
As a pre-caution, we are reminding our scholars this afternoon about safety tips for walking to and from school. We would appreciate your help by having a similar conversation at home. The walking safety advice includes:
GENERAL SAFETY TIPS
• Pay close attention to your surroundings, avoid “automatic pilot.”
• Walk with a purpose; project an assertive, business-like image.
• Use common sense; plan your route to avoid uninhabited parks, parking lots, garages and alleyways.
• Stick to well-lit areas.
• Develop a plan before you see trouble. Crossing a street or entering a store may get you out of a potentially bad situation.
• If a car follows you or beckons you while you are walking, do not approach it. Instead, turn and quickly walk the opposite direction.
• Consider wearing clothing and shoes that you can move freely and quickly in, especially when walking or waiting for the bus.
• Carry minimal items; overloading yourself can make you appear vulnerable.
• Always plan your route and stay alert to your surroundings. Avoid shortcuts. Walk confidently. Scan your surroundings and make eye contact with people.
• Avoid walking alone at night. As much as possible, walk or travel with a friend, even during the daytime.
As always, thank you for your help and partnership!

Comments

Lynn said…
What is the city doing to maintain public safety in this neighborhood? If that's not possible, the city should be paying for yellow bus transportation to Denny and Sealth.
NESeattleMom said…
The article says on way home from school. Is this the same school that had a couple of similar incidents about two years ago?
Anonymous said…
May be of interest

http://www.seattleschools.org/common/pages/DisplayFile.aspx?itemId=6990122
NESeattle Mom, I think it is. This may speak to what the City and SPD are doing about that area.
Unknown said…
NOTHING is being done. The safety of students inside these schools is just as bad as outside these schools! I have been to meeting after meeting with the administration, each time farther and farther up the chain. They just tell you what you want to hear and make promises that they can't keep. I have had students in both the middle school and high school, I refuse to let my youngest even attend the middle school and I have since moved one to private. These two schools are horrible. There has been off campus incidents almost yearly. If half the students are failing to meet standards in basic reading, writing, and math, then these are huge red flags! The students are running the schools, have no respect for authority and are not being held accountable for their actions. It is an absolute disgrace. I know it takes a village, but the SPS administration is full of idiots and until that changes I have no faith leaving my students in their hands any longer.
Anonymous said…
well better than the police report which didn't give any description about the assailants but what about weight, color of clothing and race. Two men 5' 7" would be hard to miss if adequately described.

-bad cop
WS mom said…
What I would like to know is why am I reading this here and not in an email from the district. I live in West Seattle and while not in that neighborhood it would make sense to send out an email to all the families that live in West Seattle.

Add that to my list of emails I need to send to the district.

Anonymous said…
Makes GREAT sense to move safe after-school childcare out of the school buildings. Add Seattle Police to Council and Murray's office. Do our public agencies know what Seattle schools is proposing?

"HELP"
mirmac1 said…
My child goes to Sealth and it is not a jungle. The students do not "run the school". There is no indication that the assailants are students. Do not condemn a school just because there is some crime in the surrounding neighborhood. I don't hear anyone saying that about Roosevelt when the squatters and druggies occupied nearby abandoned buildings.
lowell parent said…
I'm just thankful that the two girls were not harmed. It saddens me that two boys think that they can treat girls this way. We need to have a zero tolerance to any form of violence against women.
lowell parent said…
I'm just thankful that the two girls were not harmed. It saddens me that two boys think that they can treat girls this way. We need to have a zero tolerance to any form of violence against women.
Unknown said…
Thanks for the post. People who are really concerned about their safety must take help from the firearms safety training to make themselves feel more safer and confident. You can also take help from the MA Gun License so as to make the things around you legal and safer.

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