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Saturday, March 25, 2006

The House

Posted by on March 25 at 13:43 PM

house.jpg


Thomas is finding out more about the small blue rental house where the shooting occurred, and apparently it’s well known by neighbors as a party house frequented by the black eyeliner set.

“Parties go on there a lot,” said neighbor Charles Jackson. “But it’s been quiet recently. I usually see a bunch of unusual people going back and forth there.”

David Levin, 23, another neighbor, added: “Last night there were people coming and going all night. A mix of wanna-be gangsters, goth kids, and ravers.”

Levin echoed news reports that say the shooter was at the party earlier in the night, left, and then returned later with a number of weapons, including a shotgun.

The porch of the house reportedly boasts several beer kegs, as well as this creepy doll, captured by The Stranger’s Corianton Hale:


doll.jpg


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Wanna bet that there will be city or state legislature proposed to make house parties with amplified music illegal because of this?

Not that a fucked up kid who shouldn't have had access to a gun is a factor or anything.

Obviously, I'm more concerned about the tragedy itself right now, and the victims. This is a small town, and if it's not someone we know, it will be someone someone we know knows who will be one of the victims -- which makes this absolutely awful.

I'm sorry, but I don't give a flying crap about your right to have house parties right now. And neither should you.

Fnarf, that was the exact same 'logic' used to pass the Patriot Act and start the War on Iraq after 9/11. Have some sense.

Thank you for not reading my second post, fnarf.

I have more sense than you ever will, Gomie. Fuck your house parties, that's all I've got to say. Fuck 'em.

House is 2112 E Republican St., owned by Gregg D Doyle, purchased in 1996.

Fnarf is right.

Fuck large industrial towers in NYC for that matter.

Or high schools in Coloroda.

Or anybody who lives in the projects.

These places of habitation and/or work are obviously the source problems, not the people who actually cause them.

Gomez, are you the same guy who got yelled off nwtekno for trying to turn a discussion of who lived and who died into whether TEH MAN may or may not crimp your precious pastime? Stop being a livejournal teenager and shut the fuck up. This is neither the time nor the place for raging against the machine.

They're not my house parties. You're knee jerking like a complete ninny.

I'm just for defending the rights of people to have them. And city politicians are going to use this isolated incident as justification to take that away from people.

No, I wasn't, Max. I don't even know what group you're talking about. Quit spewing hatred in the name of a bleeding heart.

All of you are going to look like compelte idiots in three months for reacting like this.

What's wrong with Gomez's point? Most of us can't do anything about this anyway, right now! You can mourn, or you can think about repercussions. If you chose to mourn, then fine. Don't tell others what they can or can't do.

And it's always "your precious pasttime" until one day it becomes actually *your* precious pasttime that's targetted... who's going to come and defend you then, when you realize the subsequent repercussions?

guys, guys. chill.

Look, I'm just hoping that it will a gun control issue that gets talked about, instead of house parties. EVERYONE has house parties. Not everyone has guns.

And I realize the paradox here, given that there are people with guns who aren't psycho freaks like this guy in question was. But when are we going to realize that, perhaps, people can still enjoy the use of recreational gun use *in a controlled environment* instead of being allowed to carry them anywhere freely? These things are made to hurt living things, period.

Yes, I'm reigniting the gun control issue again, because this is actually what this is, not a "rave" issue.

I must add that this was nothing more than a random act of violence by someone who clearly was mentally unstable. This could have happened at a club, a coffeehouse, a concert venue, a classroom, or anywhere. I think the fact that this was a party with freaky paraphernalia is irrelevant, but the city and the media are going to spin it like that totally had everything to do with it.

I'm sure these kids, however fucked up the poster artwork and the home decorating seems, have thrown dozens of parties without anything close to this ever happening. I've know quite a few raver kids and they're as nonviolent a group as you'll see... and now they're all going to be painted as violent Columbinesque murderers, to suit some ninny's agenda to squash them all like bugs.

The Stranger owes it to this city to make it clear that this was nothing more than an isolated act of senseless violence by a single sick individual.... not an act absolutely fueled by this sort of lifestyle. That's my point above all else.

And Matt makes a good point: crying about this will not bring those dead kids back.

Again, it's not about the "lifestyle." Popular culture right now is going through another zombie/serial killer phase (28 Days Later? Sean of the Dead? Hostel? Stay Alive? Saw? Saw 2?). and it's nothing but a big freaking costume party.

What's unavoidable, though, is the irony—an after party for a zombie rave that promised "a night of terror" turns into... a night of terror.

The irony is mortifying, not the "lifestyle." There is no zombie lifestyle.

For now, the best thing to come from this will be that the victims will be properly venerated, and we can just move on.

I don't think it's a bad idea at all for future house parties to informally have somebody willing to frisk people they don't immediately know at entry, all being said. I just don't think it should be law.

And many people predicted doom to the "scene" after the Great White pyrotechnic disaster in Rhode Island, and the murder of Diamond Dave and others. But clubs, above and under-ground are still operating -- probably on sketchy ground when it comes to the safety of the patrons.

This is big here because it hits home directly, but this is relatively small compared to even recent musical event tragedies.

I'm hoping parents and politicians will see this tragedy for what it is, and help rebuild, and not attempt to create limitation of freedom in the name of "protection".

Crackdown, schmackdown!


Whatever! I'm going to crackdown on you cracked out crackdown complainers.




I just don't see these end-of-life-as-I-know-it crackdowns happening. Shhh...

Seven dead. No biggie. Pass the bong.

"Venerate the victims?"

I really have to wonder what's wrong with you people. The victims, most of them, are dead. The people you should be thinking about are the moms and sisters and friends who are still wondering if their people are dead or not. One mom said, "I still don't know where she is, but if I find her, she's grounded for life". That's tragic in about six different ways, and it's STILL TRAGIC even if your hit of excitement has worn off already. "Move on". Yeah, let's. These people will still be suffering from this murder fifty years from now. But of course, the only thing that matters is whether they're going to take away your precious house parties, or your precious guns (!). It's all about you, after all.

How do you 'crackdown' on a private party in someone's home? Unless the neighbors complain about the noise, who's going to know about it? I don't see any legislative group getting together to pass a law or ordinance banning private parties. And if they did, who the hell is going to enforce it? Is Seattle going to fund a Task Force to police residential neighborhoods to bust illegal keggers, raves, bar mitzvahs, and Grandma and Grandpa's 45th Wedding Anniversery? Would this happen in a state where they pass 25 foot smoking bans which are unenforced? Or are you afraid it would be a statute aimed at the poor, beleagured Goth community banning kohl eyed, dirty haired teens from congregating in DJ Mortisha's rec room? and if such an idiotic law WERE to get passed, it would get the boot in court...Get a fucking grip...

The people going 'There won't be no crackdown SHut up!' clearly don't remember the precedents set by our left-wing city council concerning nightlife. It took years of scratching and clawing to get them to repeal the Teen Dance Ordinance and even now, it's a fight just to keep all-ages events going in this city without the city mandating laws and crackdowns to limit these events.

Whatever your intention, Dan, you're parading the perceived sickness of these individuals throughout the Slog, images and ideas that are going to stick with the city when they decide how they're going to react to this, because they're not just going to let a murder of seven kids at a party go with a simple investigation and trial. Greg Nickels doesn't just show up to the scene of any crime without some sort of intent.

You have more sense than this, people. We get the irony, now quit playing up to it and giving the nannies in our media and city council more motivation and ammunition.

Fnarf, yes, of course victims and families thereof here are currently suffering and will be suffering for a long time.

What can we do about it right now? Please tell me. An online petition saying "There There now"?

I'm sure there will be donation funds available to the victims' families; and I plan to make a donation myself once things clear up.

I just don't see why everyone has to stop all sorts of speculation talk because "PEOPLE ARE SUFFERING" now. Newsflash: people are suffering every second -- everywhere. Strangers die everyday. It's grim, but we wouldn't be able to function if we dedicated all our thinking to the most absolute grim at all times.

Last summer I had a large (80 people) party in the courtyard of my Capitol Hill apartment complex. An irate and nebbishy neighbor called the cops at 1.30 am to file a noise complaint. The cops showed up at 3.30 am long after the guests had left.

I called the cops last week due to a noisy drug transaction gone awry in my alley which consisted of two guys screaming at each other and getting progressively more violent. As I was speaking to the 911 operator the men moved on down the street, still yelling. The 911 operator told me to call back if they returned but did not dispatch a squad car to investigate. This was at 2.30 in the afternoon.

IF some sort of Draconian anti-PRIVATE party law was enacted, I wouldn't be that worried. It would be unenforcable, just like like the 25 foot smoking ban. The city, county and state does not have the funds available to patrol the streets of any major city looking for private parties that may or may not get out of control. Besides, there are already laws out there to limit and control private parties. No enforcable law could have prevented the tragedy that occured this morning. (well, maybe stricter gun control but that ain't gonna happen).Trying to compare those events with 9/11 and the blasphemy that is the Patriot Act is beyond stupid...

Gomez - you are a hard hearted fucking gass bag paranoid idiot.

I have been on the web, TV, and radio - all day.

Not a single word, not one, along the lines you suggest. IN FACT, the police chief in extensive interview went out of his way to say the house had some parties but no problem at all.

This mad hatter armed assasin could have offed his victims anywhere - he snapped in some primal way - decided to kil and kill and kill - and went back to his last venue where he knew there were people. Could have been a 7 Eleven, QFC or Burger King.

Sheer and utter tragedy for all us soft hearted, caring folks. Tears in my house and we know not a soul who was killed.

The city will mourn this horror for years.

Gomez - you need to apoligize to humanity. Get a clue before your old age, life will go much better.

"I'm sure these kids, however fucked up the poster artwork and the home decorating seems, have thrown dozens of parties without anything close to this ever happening."

Having known many of those who did throw this event for a long time, I'd like to fully confirm that statement. They are good and loving people all. I am amazed and touched to see the way that the members of the 'rave', or 'party', or whatever you choose to call it, community in this town have come together to try to offer ways to help each other through. In a society of increasing isolation where 'bowling alone' is the norm, they have formed bonds and webs of friendships many others should be jealous of.

I stopped going to parties years ago, yet seeing some of the names being tossed about, friends of the victims that I knew (thank god I've been spared knowing any of the victims directly), has been enough to put me in an anxious daze all day. My stomach is still in knots, and is bound to be for a long time.

It's been said here that people die every day. So very true. Yet that never means it is forgettable; that it doesn't impact us or that we are able to simply say 'so well' and move on. Especially for those of us close to that web of people who were hurt this morning, and especially when it happens in such a way.

I wish I had something better to say, but the same old hacknyed and trite quips. I just wish it hadn't happened to such a loving, connected, caring group of young people.

sigh.

Gomez has made some salient points. Tragedies like these make the community feel vulnerable and when the community feels vulnerable leadership rushes to fix this feeling. Not only does this leave us open to misguided politicos' "best" intentions but also to opportunism in the form of socially regressive policies.

This is a horrible thing to have happen in our neighborhood. It pisses me off that this obviously disturbed kid had access to such an arsenal. I'm going to be watching closely how our leaders respond.

Ryan - do not agree. Random acts do not generate that kind of response.

If there had been many problems - over time - like Pioneer Square - then, responses.

Not this obvious random act. There is not defense or reaponse to this - like when the postal workers were rampaging a few years back.

Lots of sorrow. and shock, quite real.

Seattle is soft hearted place. Despite all and afer all.

Ethos.

Jake, calm down and regain some perspective. I understand what a tragedy this is. I also understand how civic leaders tend to react to these sorts of tragedies. What the police chief says isn't indicative of what Mayor Nickels and the city (or even the police department, despite the chief's words) will do in response. Leaders often react by doing more harm than good. The South Park creators didn't create the Shiela Brozlowski character out of thin air: her actions mirror the reactions of leaders in cities across America, including those in Trey and Matt's hometown of Littleton, CO following the tragic Columbine shooting.

And thanks, Ryan. That's exactly the point I was getting at.

Here is some perspective. No big police matter - shooter is dead, police did all they could, arrived on scene mid mayhem. First cop on scene gets good cop citation.

City priority - say it carefully - Alaska Way Viaduct.

The good mayor is VERY pro-occupied for the next 7 months.

People will want details, events themselves are more than enough punishment.

The grief will set in as they identify the victims and the city goes into total mourning for the next week.

Strangely, the shooter will get sympathy as well. We fear insanity but all know it lurks in all humanity and can spring out of nowhere.

This is the most insane thing I have ever been close to.

Jake - Random acts generate that kind of response all the time. Whether it will happen here remains to be seen but this is exactly the type of event that leads to the things I mentioned in my first post. I'm not saying that it *will* happen, I'm saying that we (the community) should be aware of the possibility of it happening. "It" includes regressive county and city regulations and perhaps more importantly (because of its insidiousness) changes in cultural attitudes. The ravers (I'm not one, btw) are receiving a huge amount of attention right now. If you look at the nwtekno.com board linked in a post above you'll see posts from local and national media asking ravers for information and interviews. Barring a greater tragedy, when we wake up Monday morning the rave community will be under the spotlight by every news show in the country. The perception will be predictable: Ravers had party = 7 people dead. Just like Saddam Hussein = 9/11. Oh wait...

All I can hope for is that we pay close attention to how this plays out and we don't fall into any traps because of the inevitable hysteria that's going to follow.

Certainly, Jake. We're shocked and appalled as well. Seven people got inexplicably gunned down at a party by a gunman that, at that moment, was not in his right mind.

Let's mourn those gone and let the SPD try to find out what happened and why. And let's all maintain the sense not to lash out elsewhere. The mayor's got a lot of priorities, and he can make something new a priority at a moment's notice.

Goddammit. At least 2 of my friends are dead this morning and you're arguing about tthe possible legal ramifications of this?

That house las tweek put on a party called "The Ides of March", and had to deal with not only having their headliner cancel because of passport issues, but also the fact tat due to a noise complaint the SPD showed up and took all of of the take from the door and the bar. They were out over 2 grand, and that's why they had spare kegs on the porch ffriday night.

Despite this they generously opened up their home to strangers and had people over for an afterparty.

Now, he's dead.

Goddammit.

We just don't want this to be the last party that's ever held, Bago. This is terrible and I'm really sorry you lost two friends.

Bago - I'm very sorry. I wish you and your friends and family the best.

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