An unhoused camper died outside the Burien Town Square condos at SW 152nd Street & 5th Place SW in Burien on Thursday morning, Mar. 14, 2024.
According to the 911 dispatch (see below), the call came in at 5:24 a.m., and multiple units responded.
Burien Police responded Thursday morning for a 911 call about a person “not conscious or alert.”
“We are sad to say the fire department was not able to revive the person and the person was pronounced deceased at the scene,” Sgt. Eric White of the King County Sheriff’s Office told The B-Town Blog.
The King County Medical Examiner (M.E.) took custody of the victim’s body, but it is far too soon to speculate on their cause of death, as the M.E. has yet to perform an autopsy.
As this is an active and open investigation, no other information – including the victim’s identity – was released.
This tragic incident happened at the encampment that the Burien Community Support Coalition, led by Cydney Moore, helped bring homeless into downtown to camp in.
“The truth of the matter is, homelessness is deadly,” Moore told The B-Town Blog. “Some folks may contend that offering aid to people is ‘enabling’ or that people should be swept to make their lives difficult until they ‘hit rock bottom,’ but today we are seeing the stark reality: for those who are homeless, hitting rock bottom means dying.”
Mayor Schilling Responds
“This is a direct result of the irresponsibility of Moore and her organization, as well as a direct result of the Sheriff’s Department and the County Executive suing us so they don’t have to enforce our common sense tent regulating measure, as well as not enforcing drug laws in the Downtown core.”
“These overdoses are incredibly sad. And King County has had a record year for overdoses last year. Do-Nothing government at the County level has led to this death and the hundreds of others. Burien will continue to push for our common sense measures to get folks off the streets and into shelter and services. I sure hope the Sheriff and County Executive staff taking their roles seriously, and stop wasting taxpayer time and money with their stunts that are leading to deaths.”
Cydney Moore Responds
“The death that occurred this morning in downtown Burien is a profound loss to our community. My deepest sympathy goes out to the friends, family, and loved ones of the person who passed away today.
“Every single person that dies on the streets is a mark against a society that chooses not to address the public health crisis of poverty and homelessness. Last year, 7 people experiencing homelessness died in Burien – a record number, and a sizable increase from years prior. This is mirrored in the record number of deaths of unhoused people in King County as a whole, and reflective of the data that shows people experiencing homelessness in our region statistically on average die decades earlier (28 years, to be exact) than those with housing.
“The truth of the matter is, homelessness is deadly. Some folks may contend that offering aid to people is “enabling” or that people should be swept to make their lives difficult until they “hit rock bottom,” but today we are seeing the stark reality: for those who are homeless, hitting rock bottom means dying.
“There is not one person to blame for the tragedy of these deaths, but rather a systemic problem of ignoring and villainizing the homeless, resulting in underinvestment in housing and support services, and an increase in laws that seek to punish and criminalize people for being poor, unhoused, and/or experiencing mental or behavioral health challenges. While no one person is responsible for this system, every single person has a choice – to work to dismantle this system and minimize the harm it does, or to perpetuate this system and deem the resulting victimization of vulnerable people as acceptable.
“It is easy to point fingers and try to assign blame; it is much harder to work with people you may disagree with, or even hold animosity towards, to find real solutions that address the root causes of these issues, and improves circumstances in the community for all. I would ask that our leaders do just that: instead of trying to deflect responsibility, or using strife in our community to stoke divisiveness, step up and do the hard work of helping our city heal, and finding ways to keep all of our people safe (particularly those who are so incredibly vulnerable and at risk). I, and so many others, stand ready to partner with anyone who shares these goals.”
Burien Resident/RN Responds
Burien resident and registered nurse Jody Rauch, MA, offered her thoughts as well:
“I am a Burien resident and a registered nurse. I have worked in community and public health for 20 years, and I am heartbroken to hear this news. I am also horrified to see an elected official assign blame for a person’s death.
“Our local public health department reported on the deaths of 814 King County residents who were presumed to be homeless and found that the longer someone remains unsheltered and without access to care, the more likely they’ll die prematurely. I fail to see how the city’s ordinances would have prevented this tragic death. I would like to see our city do more to provide housing, shelter, and services for our neighbors. And I would like Mayor Schilling to apologize for his callous and inappropriate statement.”
I’m loving our new mayor. Some common sense leadership is SO WELCOME!!
This avoidable death would have happened whether there, or a Low barrier shelter where drugs are allowed. It proves the point that drug addiction will always be the driving force behind any encampment whether sanctioned or not.
Mayor Shilling, you are tone-deaf. It’s gut-wrenching to witness such a tragic loss in our community, especially when it could have been prevented. Instead of taking responsibility, our mayor chooses to deflect blame onto someone who has tirelessly worked to aid the homeless. How dare you! This person’s death is on your hands, Mayor Shilling, and on the city manager who fails to prioritize tackling homelessness. You owe the city, humanity, and the memory of this individual an apology. It’s time to stop pointing fingers and start taking real action. Shame on you
JJ;
You are misguided as the Mayor and Manager are encouraging those on the street to accept help and services, not wallow in some tent while activists stroll around enabling and encouraging such squalor. Why don’t those same activists pull up and offer rides to shelter and services instead of just waiting on others to provide help, double standards are at play.
Questions authority,
JJ is making some valid points. As for you, exactly what services and shelters are available? Please enlighten us. Burien has refused day shelters, theyve denied churches trying to make a difference, and the city continues to cut funding and contracts to said services. It’s great that you question authority, now try critical thinking.
I agree with Kevin Shilling and the action taken by the City of Burien. It is a tragedy that people suffering from drug or alcohol addiction, who need help, are given the “freedom” to live in a tent on a sidewalk until they die.
Thank you Mr Schaefer for calling out the following:
“it is far too soon to speculate on their cause of death, as the M.E. has yet to perform an autopsy.”
Exposure, foul play, heart attack, all are possible. This city’s mayor continues to prove his callous disrespect for human life.
Cydney Moore and company always blame government and responsible citizens when things go wrong in her sponsored encampments. She provides tents and transportation to the encampment in downtown Burien which is frequently on private property, property that is home to residents and businesses. Where was the “enabler” this morning when one of her campers died? Will she pick up the feces and trash that litters private and public property? Will she remove the tent that blocked the emergency stairwell fire exit from a residential building? She is a very devious wordsmith about her accomplishments for the homeless but every time she is involved there are more , not fewer campers. It would be a service to the community if the press and all media reported accurately about her actions and the negative results for the homeless and the greater community of residents and businesses. This death is unfortunate but might have been avoided if Cydney Moore fulfilled her promises to the homeless.
For Cydney Moore to ask for others to partner with her is rich as they say, her track record is one of deserved isolation. Makes perfect sense to join forces with someone who has no interest or intention in collaboration and no clear goals, her methods of enabling and flouting civil order do not make a successful model to partner with.
I look forward to seeing the mayor running against someone who challenges him and his lack of humanity. He’s arrogant and self-serving and deserves to be humbled.
You have Got to get these homeless people out of Burien. They are just destroying our small city. They go thru the trash and leave it all over. Now I see they are moved down by the Donut shop. So you’re really going to let them stay there, Seriously!!!!
Please get them out of our town.
The City of Burien has no legal responsibility to house any homeless, the shelters and services exist elsewhere and those by definition meet the requirements of providing per the law. How is it Burien’s obligation to come up with these arrangements when the County and KCRHA receive the funding as such. If you find yourself in need of that type of help it would be wise to accept and move upwards instead of defaulting to an attitude of you all owe me what I want.
Living here on 152nd, I have firsthand knowledge. The truth is, there simply isn’t available space. That’s precisely the issue.
If the “big one” (earthquake) hit tomorrow and created 4,000 homeless in minutes. The national guard would be activated. Joint base would have thousands of tents, sanitation, cooking facilities within a week. The same could happen with the unhoused. But activists would pound their chests and pull their hair because we can’t violate the rights of the unhoused who are and will continue to die on the streets. Simply put I believe that society has a responsibility to care for those that have lost the ability to care for themselves, but it is not unconditional. A large scale camp should be established and these folks should be transported there and care administered. They do not get to trample societies right for a clean and safe infrastructure.
Breaking News – Judge finds KCSO does NOT have to enforce 832 or unconstitutional laws!
How long are the residents of Burien going to allow the City Council to proceed into the areas of unconstitutional behaviors?
A Mayor assigning blame instead of expressing compassion for a loss of a human life is disgusting behavior.
Own up and take some leadership Mr. Mayor. Provide some solutions, please.