Updated with additional details.
A suspect in the fatal stabbing of a 37-year-old man in the Edmonds’ WinCo parking lot Wednesday night was taken into custody by Seattle police Thursday after an alert community member called 911, Edmonds police said.
Ian S. Bramel-Allen, 43, initially fled from SPD officers but was taken into custody after a short foot chase. He was taken to an area hospital for self-inflicted wounds and turned over to the custody of Edmonds police.
At a 9 a.m. Thursday morning press briefing, Edmonds police spokesperson Commander Josh McClure provided additional details about Wednesday night’s carjacking and fatal stabbing in the Edmonds WinCo parking lot at 21900 Highway 99.
“We have probable cause for first-degree murder for Ian S. Bramel-Allen,” McClure said. Bramel-Allen fled the scene in the victim’s vehicle and was last believed to be in the Volunteer Park area of Seattle.
McClure went on to briefly describe the events of the previous evening.
At 8:45 p.m., Edmonds police responded to a report of a stabling in the WinCo parking lot, where they found the victim, a 37-year-old male, with multiple stab wounds. Responders immediately started medical care and called for transportation to the hospital, but the victim died from his wounds. The victim — whose exact city of residence wasn’t immediately known — was walking from the store to his car when the incident occurred.
Thanks to eyewitness reports, police quickly learned that it was a carjacking situation and obtained the license plate number. The vehicle, a white Kia Sorrento, was taken from the victim and witnesses report that the suspect was last seen driving it toward I-5.
“We immediately put out the license number to law enforcement agencies, and at 5 a.m. today Seattle police located the vehicle near Volunteer Park,” McClure added. “It was impounded and towed to Edmonds, where it is being held as evidence.”
According to McClure, there “appears to be a connection between the victim and the suspect,” but details of this connection are still being investigated.
McClure concluded by praising the witnesses who came forward to provide information.
“Help from witnesses was critical, especially the license plate number,” he added. “We can’t be successful as a police department without the support and cooperation of the community.
— By Larry Vogel
Thank you to the witnesses who shared what they saw with our local police. I’m sure it was a frightening scene for everyone. So sad to have a man’s life taken so violently in our community. Truly senseless. It’s important to be aware of your surroundings at all times. I hope the suspect is quickly apprehended and justice is served.
I was on the scene around midnight, place looked like it just occurred. Great job to Edmonds Police for being thorough with documenting the crime scene.
Hope that the victims family have small solace with he perpetrator being arrested already. It’s a small thing, but I feel a slight bit better knowing our streets are a little safer with the criminal being behind bars
Amen, Doug.
Perp deserves a fair and speedy trial then a quick stop at the end of a short rope. The codling of murderers, sane or otherwise has led to where we are today.
I have a question. Was there 2 suspects involved? I had just walked to the store that evening ( my car is dead but I live next to hospital close by.) I decided to rest a minute before stopping & sat at wall. There was a man already there – he totally ignored me but was looking down one lane in parking lot intensely. Another man meeting the description provided in reports came in from 76th into parking lot walked in front of wall but stayed in parking lane in front of store until he turned down lane where victim had parked. (no hesitation headed right down) Meantime, man who had been staring down the lane of the victim got up & went down that lane as well. I went into store shortly after that so didnt witness Incident.
Just running across my notes from that night and was curious.
Great job from Edmonds police!
Susan Dixon