Man charged with murder, assault in fatal stabbing of Seattle bus driver

December 23, 2024 / 4:03 pm

caption: Dozens of mourners gathered on Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024 for a vigil honoring slain King County Metro bus driver Shawn Yim. Yim, 59, was stabbed to death while driving his route near 15th Avenue Northeast and Northeast 41st Street in Seattle's U District neighborhood on Wednesday.

A man accused of stabbing a King County Metro bus driver to death last week was charged with murder and assault on Monday. Richard Sitzlack, 53, was arrested on Saturday after another bus driver told police Sitzlack was sleeping in the back of his bus.

Prosecutors allege that Sitzlack stabbed 59-year-old Shawn Yim at least 10 times after the two had an argument as Yim's bus passed through the University District.

Sitzlack faces three charges in connection with Yim's death: first-degree murder with a deadly weapon; second-degree assault; and third-degree assault.

Prosecutors have requested that Sitzlack's bail be set at $5 million, citing "the extremely violent nature of the crime and prior acts of the defendant." Sitzlack called 911 last year to report that he'd fatally stabbed his roommate in what he said was an act of self-defense, but was never prosecuted due to a lack of evidence, prosecutors say.

Sitzlack remains in jail and has an arraignment hearing scheduled for Jan. 6.

“Transit drivers are dedicated public servants who provide a critical service to the people of King County, and this kind of violence is unacceptable,” King County Prosecuting Attorney Leesa Manion said in a statement. “Shawn Yim’s death is heartbreaking, and he will not be forgotten. We want clear accountability at each step of the court process.”

According to documents from the Seattle Police Department and the Prosecutor's Office, Sitzlack entered the bus at 15th Avenue NE and NE 43rd Street at 2:49 a.m. and closed a window next to his seat. Yim, the driver, requested that the window be reopened in order to keep the windows from becoming fogged up. Sitzlack said he was cold and argued with the driver. Yim parked the bus at NE 41st Street and closed the window himself, which reportedly prompted Sitzlack to yell and hurl insults at the driver. Yim told Sitzlack to get off the bus at 2:53 a.m. Sitzlack then pepper sprayed Yim and left.

The police narrative continues to describe Yim following Sitzlack off of the bus where he is pepper sprayed again and kicked between the legs. Yim and a passenger called 911. Yim reported to a dispatcher that he had been assaulted and the person was getting away. Yim followed Sitzlack through a parking lot where Sitzlack stabbed him multiple times. Yim was still on the phone with the 911 dispatcher.

Police found a Winchester knife sheath near where Yim's body was found. A half block away, they found a bloody Winchester knife in a garbage can. Fingerprints were taken from around Sitzlack's seat on the bus. Video from the bus, as well as cameras at surrounding businesses were reviewed by investigators. The second person on the bus, who also called 911, reported to police that they recognized Sitzlack from helping him at a local tent city.

According to the Prosecutor's Office, Sitzlack is being charged with murder for the fatal stabbing; second-degree assault for the pepper spraying; and third-degree assault for kicking Yim.

"To kill someone who was simply calling you out on your own bad behavior reveals the defendant to be a person of extreme capacity to inflict injury and death on others with no consideration of the human cost," the charging document states.