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Wednesday, January 2, 2008

Friends, Colleagues Say Harps Was Quiet, Unassuming, Kind

posted by on January 2 at 15:41 PM

Few new details have emerged yet in the sad story of Shannon Harps’ death, except a rather scary-looking sketch of a “person of interest” in the murder, released by police earlier today. (The sketch of the “person of interest” matches the description of the suspect police released yesterday). Representatives from the Sierra Club, where Harps worked as an associate regional representative promoting the Cascade Chapter’s Cool State campaign, have not returned calls for comment.

Friends and coworkers we have talked to, however, describe Harps as a quiet, mild-mannered young woman who was a little shy but who had a great sense of humor once you drew her out. Harps worked for the Sierra Club for at least eight years—first in Columbus, Ohio, and then in Seattle, where much of her job involved signing cities up for the Mayors’ Climate Protection Agreement, in which cities agree to voluntarily reduce their greenhouse-gas emissions. “It’ll be a terrible loss,” says Sierra Club Cascade Chapter chair Mike O’Brien, who worked closely with Harps. O’Brien describes Harps as thoughtful and helpful—always the first person to show up at events to help out and the last person to leave after cleaning up. “She was just a really good person… just very positive and uplifting,” O’Brien says.

Marc Conte, a friend of Harps who worked with her in the Club’s Columbus office, says Harps was always supportive and positive, even when victories were few and far between (as they frequently were in Ohio.) She never got mad or raised her voice, he says, even during heated debates. “Some take an adversarial approach but Shannon rose above it. People on ‘the other side’ of an issue were her opponents, not enemies. She might have disagreements with those folks but never arguments…”

Harps moved to Seattle about four years ago to work at the Sierra Club. She was stabbed by a bearded, “scruffy-looking” man, according to witnesses, outside a condo building on 15th and Howell, where she had lived for two years, and died of injuries to her upper chest and abdomen before paramedics could get her to a hospital. She had planned to meet up with friends for a New Year’s Eve party, and was just heading back from Madison Market with groceries when she was attacked. Police haven’t yet said whether they believe the killer was someone Harps knew, but an SPD spokesman did confirm to the Stranger that police are interviewing co-workers to determine whether the man was connected to the Sierra Club. Meanwhile, police have increased patrols in the area around 15th and Howell. O’Brien says he can’t imagine anyone targeting someone like Harps for a random attack; however, the alternative is equally unimaginable. “It doesn’t make sense,” O’Brien says. “If it’s not random, then who the hell would want to target someone like that?”

RSS icon Comments

1

the only scary thing about that sketch is that he looks like every other guy walking around our neighborhood.

Posted by maria | January 2, 2008 3:46 PM
2

I live in the neighborhood and am really saddened by this. Has there been any talk of a community meeting in response? It feels like this is a good opportunity to meet, mourn, and learn as a community.

Posted by concerned neighbor | January 2, 2008 3:50 PM
3

I knew Shannon, and I'm going to miss her. She was such a wonderful human being--I loved her subtle sense of humor, her optimism, and her dedication to her work. My heart is breaking. Her family is in my thoughts.

Posted by KC | January 2, 2008 3:52 PM
4

good REPORTING, erica.

way more useful and informative and better written than the "real" newspapers.

Posted by michael strangeways | January 2, 2008 3:55 PM
5

What a tragic loss. So sad.

A few weeks ago here in SF, something similar happened -- a crazy homeless guy stabbed a young woman. This sounds like exactly the same thing.

Arguably, the woman in SF provoked the attack by attempting to befriend the crazy guy -- a kind act, but obviously dangerous, especially since it was late at night when she approached him. I wonder if Shannon made the same mistake; she sounds like the sort person who might try to help a person in need.

Posted by mattymatt | January 2, 2008 4:02 PM
6

Three observations:

1. All I remember about her was that she was fairly quiet.

2. Just because someone gets attacked by someone doesn't mean the guy is homeless - that's just your American paranoia speaking out.

3. There is no such thing as safety. It's all pretty much an illusion. No, I'm quite serious about that, they just want you to live in Fear, and doing so won't make you safer, it will probably make you less safe.

Posted by Will in Seattle | January 2, 2008 4:11 PM
7

Does "voluntarily reduce their greenhouse-gas emissions" mean that the city volunteers to reduce the greenhouse-gas emissions of the city government (e.g. driving the mayoral limousine) or that the city "volunteers" to compel its citizens to reduce their greenhouse-gas emissions?

Posted by David Wright | January 2, 2008 4:16 PM
8

I'm with with commenter 1 - the sketch looks like a zillion hipsters living in Cap Hill. Not one bit scary. Other than that, great reporting.

Posted by genevieve | January 2, 2008 4:17 PM
9

Wow - I just walked to the Madison Market and there were three pairs of foot-patrol police in the surrounding blocks, they are taking this extremely seriously.

Posted by Colton | January 2, 2008 4:53 PM
10

so NOW everyone likes having cops around. funny how that works.

Posted by color me surprised | January 2, 2008 5:00 PM
11

I live in Shannon's building and worked with her on the building's co-op board. She was indeed friendly, patient and thoughtful: in a word, sweet. When a particular problem had arisen, a fellow boardmember gently kidded "You know it has to be bad when even Shannon is expressing annoyance." I last saw Shannon a few days ago while I was in the basement doing laundry. She was listening to her iPod and painting long planks of wood. We smiled and said Hi.

Everyone in the building is shocked and saddened, of course. It's still difficult to believe.

Posted by Kyle | January 2, 2008 5:07 PM
12

2008: the year hipsters on the hill stopped with the scruffy beard look.

Posted by stinkbug | January 2, 2008 6:01 PM
13

I am so saddened by this horrible incident. I live a few blocks away and one of things I love about our neighborhood is how easy it is to walk from place to place. This poor woman was attacked on pretty busy street around dinner time. It mades me scared to walk around anytime now. I am praying and sending love to her friends and family.

Posted by Jade | January 2, 2008 9:13 PM
14

I live in the area and I stopped walking up to the Madison Market awhile back because I was harrassed several times by weirdos hanging around outside the 7-11 across the street. I don't know what it is about that particular little block, but there are always sketchy people mulling around there. It looks like it may be a hot spot for drugs or something. Just an observation.

Posted by sarah | January 2, 2008 10:02 PM
15

my 31 year old daughter lives a block away from where Shannon was killed...she also is terribly upset..she left flowers and candles..didn't know Shannon ..but just wishes she could do something :( I agree the people in the neighborhood should meet and share their thoughts..I hope they find the demon that did this..

Posted by maureen | January 2, 2008 10:09 PM
16

i knew shannon pretty well and will always remember her as kind, passionate, and loving. her heart was everywhere and all she wanted to do was make the world better. i will miss her drive and hope we all continue.

lisa a

Posted by lisa anne | January 2, 2008 11:21 PM
17

Note to #14: There's a food bank across the street from Madison Market and 711 and of course, Seattle Mental Health is just a block away...

Posted by michael strangeways | January 3, 2008 9:13 AM
18

There is nothing random about this attack.

1. Her attacker knew her or thought he knew her.

2. No one will be surprised by whom they catch when they catch the guy. You will not hear "he was the nicest fellow. We're completely shocked he did this."

3. He is under-employed / unable to hold a steady job. He is not very well educated. He does not have a steady living environment and has rarely maintained steady relationships.

4. He has committed violent crimes before. He has most likely been in either jail or prison before.

5. The police have a ton of physical evidence. They probably already know or have a very good idea of who killed her.

6. Those of you who knew her well have probably also encountered him before.

If I were looking for him, I would start by looking at the people she's encountered while in some form of authority. Did she volunteer recently during the holidays? Does her job place her in contact with volunteers or low-waged employees?

Television news says she trained volunteers. I'll bet a former volunteer knows exactly who killed her.

There are no more reasons to be scared now than there were the day before.

Posted by six shooter | January 3, 2008 9:54 AM
19

I agree with your very last paragraph, six shooter.

But, I'm not sure about many of the rest.

Posted by Will in Seattle | January 3, 2008 11:02 AM
20

The news last night said Shannon was heard saying something right before or after the attack, but the police will not reveal what she said. Maybe she was identifying her attacker?

Posted by Jade | January 3, 2008 1:00 PM
21

I heard that too Jade. WTF? Why wont they disclose what she said?

Posted by Anton | January 3, 2008 5:44 PM
22

Has anyone heard anything else lately? I keep looking for new info online, but haven't seen anything since the 3rd or 4th of January.

On a related note, when I called Home Alive to sign up for the self defense course (206-323-HOME), they said that for the first time ever, they are having to open up more sections. I've heard great things about this group's classes and am looking forward to it. At least it will give me another set of skills to go with what I already do and use for self protection.

It really sucks that a woman has to think about this stuff so often, but since we do and since they asked me to put the word out about their classes, I thought I'd mention them here.

My deepest condolences and prayers to Shannon Harps' family and friends.

Posted by another gal on the hill | January 14, 2008 4:00 PM

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