Arrest made in Greenwood murder case, suspect may be Ballard High student

Updated 11:40 a.m. Police say they’ve arrested a 17-year-old suspect in the murder of David Peterson, who was killed on Sunday night near 85th St. and 1st Ave. Police say the suspect was attempting to board a plane at Sea-Tac airport.

KING 5 is reporting the suspect is a senior at Ballard High School. Earlier, KIRO reported that police sources gave them the same suspect name. The student’s name is on the roster of the Ballard High football team.

Detectives are not publicly releasing the name, although it was widely reported yesterday (we are not releasing his name until charges are filed.) Seattle Police say they received information that the suspect was planning to fly out of Sea-Tac, so detectives contacted the Port of Seattle Police, who made the arrest. “There are no suspects outstanding in this case, which remains an active and on-going homicide investigation,” SPD said this morning.

Peterson was discovered in a car in a parking lot near the Greenwood Fred Meyer, dead of a single gunshot wound. Police said he had called 911 to report he had been robbed while on his nightly walk. Police said they were investigating to see if the crime was linked to the robbery of the nearby Baranof restaurant.

On Friday, police searched a home in the 9000 block of 4th Ave. NW., leaving with several bags of evidence.

We’ll update as we learn more. For earlier coverage on the Greenwood murder, visit our sister site PhinneyWood.com.

Geeky Swedes

The founders of My Ballard

71 thoughts to “Arrest made in Greenwood murder case, suspect may be Ballard High student”

  1. This is all very strange.
    Whose car was the victim in if he was out on his nightly walk?
    How did the victim call the police when that is what they robbed him of?
    Who/where are the other two suspects?
    Why did the police previously name the prime suspect, now are pretending they did not?

    Especially a minor. I am guessing shoddy police work will lead to have this case thrown out.

  2. Ballard Mom’s commentary is rude and ill-informed. Either that, or she is looking to be sued. Please remove her comments, especially since she named the suspect, who is a minor.

  3. Ballardmom’s comments need to go. Her comments are judgmental and inappropriate. Read the rules. It isn’t her job to post the name and age of the alleged young man.

  4. A man has died.
    Whether he was found lying on the ground, or in a car is inconsequential.
    A teenager who attended the school that many of our kids go to, or will go to has done a horrible act. His life too, is now over.
    There is a wife of 22 years sitting alone in her home tonight; her soul mate is gone.
    Spend your energy helping, or you are the same as the perpetrator.
    Ugly is ugly regardless of the language.

  5. no, it is not inconsequential.

    I feel for the victim’s family.

    on one of the major news reports, it was made out that the perpetrator was in deep trouble because the victim’s wife works for the king co. prosececutor’s office.

    that is plain wrong.

    also, please remove ballard mom’s comment for reasons specified above.

  6. I think the facts speak for themselves, not only is he a suspect in this robbery and MURDER. An innocent man’s life gone forever. HE is the suspect in an earlier robbery, and a condo has him on video breaking in. At 17 you know when you pull a trigger that someone can be hurt or die. HE gave up his MINOR right when you commit adult crimes.
    AND who did pay for his plane ticket to get out of state? His image and name may have caught him before another life was taken. HE made bad choices that have long consequences.

  7. Why are people in Seattle area so LIBERAL. Such enablers, Excuse makers for all bad behavior? Nicklesville homeless encampment the man running it says he is OVER RUN by Meth dealers and Criminals. He blames the SPD for not helping him, leaving out that he Had Mayors Office having hands off to NOT harass homeless poor people.
    Drug Users are addicts, it is not their fault, DWI drivers are alcoholics a disease they can’t help.
    Poor people who waste their rent and become homeless had a bad homelife.

    DOES Anyone take responsibility or hold anyone responsible? Enabling people and no consequences has Made Seattle criminals not afraid to victimize people. We show no respect for Seattle Police, the VICTIMS Wife is a data recorder of about 2 years, I doubt this has ANY affect on a court case, facts, or a Judge or Jury isn’t going to go after him harder. If there was a conflict of interest they will try the case in another jurisdiction. We are a better city and he deserved to take a walk without being robbed and killed.

  8. This is sick. Like I am embarrassed to be from a school where students are trying to defend this kid more than pay tribute to the man he murdered and family he ruined. Rest in paradise.
    I’m glad they’re planning to try him as an adult, he deserves everything that’s coming to him.

  9. Rest in Paradise? Never heard that one.

    And I am embarrassed that a high school student throws in the word “Like” to start a sentence. I though you kids only talked like that.

  10. Thanks for your post Ballard Student.

    I’m curious about one thing though – are BHS students defending Byron’s actions? Maybe those were comments that have been removed or maybe you are hearing general chit chat in the halls.

    Just wonderingā€¦..

  11. “your judgement on the murdererā€™s parents that are way out of line. ”

    Why not? If I raised a murderer I’d wonder what I did wrong.

  12. If your child was a murderer would you need others talking about you in a public forum to prompt you to question yourself and wonder what you did wrong? Or would you be concentrating on the lifetime of anguish ahead for the child you loved, however imperfectly, and the victim’s loved ones left behind?

    And does anyone really think it is abnormal for teens who knew Byron as a classmate and football player to react with disbelief that he’s now a wanted murderer?

  13. “He was a good kid who made a bad decision”, according to one of his friends.

    Wrap your head around that bit of mental and moral gymnastics for a moment.

    “Yeah, except for the robberies and murder, he was a good kid, you know”

    Errrrr no, he was a bad kid. Period. Good kids don’t rob people and carry guns. If he gets less than 30 years that will be the second crime.

  14. If Seattle is so liberal, how come they are against free speech? Remove Ballard Mom’s comments?! What, because you do not like them? For being rude? Wow. And you think yourselves liberal. Fox News is liberal compared to that.

    But ja, who says he even has parents involved in his life? Being on the Ballard football team is a shock. Ballard is a big high school. Some kids are bad eggs. It does not make all of them bad. Ballard is a pretty good public school that deals with some really tough problems. Now their football team has been smeared. I feel sorry for them, too.

    How many spouses and children will now be stressed out whenever their loved one goes out for their nightly stroll? There is where some real permanent damage was done.

  15. It isn’t only in Seattle that people start chanting that “so and so is a good person, it’s just that he murdered/raped/stole/etc.” Which means he isn’t a good person. So let’s not let this terrible crime turn into just another opportunity for some more simpleminded liberal-vs-conservative back and forth. My family includes both liberals and conservatives and we ALL agree that this crime is a tragedy, and none of us has a speck of sympathy for the shrivel-souled person who killed.

  16. Lostanandsearching. Well said..
    And greatidea, note you said that info came from the news. They regularly misquote, bad information, etc
    And does it really matter about car vs ground? A man was murdered in cold blood.

  17. The fact is, none of us were there to witness what happened. Whether you think this kid is a horrible person or not, it’s not fair to accuse his parents of poor parenting. You weren’t there to oversee his childhood. Regardless of your feelings toward this situation, everyone should be placing the victims family in their prayers. Stop arguing with each other about all of this, that’s not why there’s a comment page.

  18. Yes, it matters car vs ground when the Seattle Times continues to report he was “out on his nightly walk” but was found “in his car.”

  19. And just how does this affect your life if in/on car, on ground. The man is DEAD.
    Anw how offensive to say parents fault “apple doesn’t fall far from tree”. You dont know them to pass judgement. If you have kids, and one killed someone, and you did everything to raise that child right, how would you like that judgement. Focus on important part ..the Peterson family loss. Maybe direct your thoughts in a more positive manner sending them thoughts.

  20. He’s dead either way, and I’m sorry for that. But I want the one newspaper that’s left in my town to get their facts straight.

  21. “If you have kids, and one killed someone”

    Yes, because parenting has nothing to do with how our kids turn out. They just go out with guns to rob and murder people because … “society!”

    Gimme a break.

    Sorry, the rotten apple doesn’t fall far from the rotten tree.

  22. Sam, you are so wrong but you are convinced his parents are at fault. I’m hoping when truthcomes out on this you will be so wrong, wrong, wrong.

  23. How will he be wrong? The kid is 17 years old. You learn your values from your parent(s). You don’t get to blame society when you’re out at 10pm with a gun robbing people. And who bought him this ticket to Atlanta? Whoever did should get 20 years.

    The parent(s) raised this POS and a good public shaming is in order.

  24. You seem infatuated with finding and capturing the person who bought the plane ticket.
    Ever hear of credit cards? I’m sure the kid bought it himself.
    And you may think you’re a wonderful mom and all, but your kids will do something that won’t make you proud someday. Trust me.

  25. “Ever hear of credit cards? Iā€™m sure the kid bought it himself.”

    A 17 year old kid out robbing and shooting people yet he has a credit card? Makes you wonder what his credit score was?

    ” but your kids will do something that wonā€™t make you proud someday”

    What, like get a speeding tix? Toilet papering someone’s house? Get arrested pool hopping? Open container at a party? What exactly?

  26. I’m very saddened that this tragedy took place at all, and that it took place so close to our homes makes it feel all the more immediate. My heart goes out to the lives destroyed so senselessly and the families that will never be the same.

    It also saddens me to see the tone some of my fellow posters have chosen to take when talking about such a terrible local tragedy.

    My Ballard: Please consider the following: You should delete all of these comments and close future comment threads for posts about loss of life.
    You should also consider going back to FB only posting. The civility in this forum has suffered greatly since you switched formats.

  27. KyleK:

    Completely agree with your post, but it seems unfair to have FB only posts. Not everyone participates in generic social media sites with a propensity for selling your personal info to marketing firms.

    People are anguished and saddened. They need to vent. What better place than a community forum. The emotions are there; better to have them out in the open. Afer all, these are your neighbors.

    Sam are you saying that an inexperienced teen driver speeding through our narrow neighborhood streets is of no consequence. If your small child, or elderly mother steps into the street perhaps your opinion would change.

    All actions have consequences. I hope the perpetrator of this crime gets the punishment deserved, but it will not heal the wounds that have been inflicted.

  28. I always find it so interesting when people read a couple of articles and think they are informed or know all the aspects of a crime, then feel free to pass judgement and condemn a person of a crime. In this country we are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Until you have first hand experience with how inaccurate media reporting is you truly have no idea how misleading articles and “news reporting” is.

    If this young man is found guilty than I certainly hope he is punished within the full extent of the law.

    Interesting how many people love to disregard our constitutional rights until they are the ones with their rights being violated.

  29. Lost and Not Searching:

    I get that people need to vent, but there is some clear malicious trolling happening in this thread. Its not “community venting.” People can vent to their friends and family directly if they need to. Its not uncommon to shut down comments on posts related to violent crimes.

    Facebook posting is just the easiest format and its what MyBallard was using before. It worked. Any semi ID verified post-with-your-real-name method would do what MyBallard clearly needs to go back to doing.

  30. 2 thoughts:
    1) I wonder how many more people would be calling for his head on a pike if he wasn’t a football player.
    2) Why do we act surprised when football players are accused of violent crimes? Football is the only major team sport where you’re taught that assaulting people is the way to solve problems. When you’re telling people to go out there and destroy people, kill them, tear them apart, etc. should it really come as a surprise when behavior that is acceptable on the grid iron spills out into daily life?

  31. These comments sure reveal a sick judgemental community, especially the posts made by Ballard Mom who comes across as an extremely hard and non-compassionate woman. Ballard Mom has tried, convicted and is “public hanging” not only the suspect but the parents. Let the justice system proceed with facts and when any suspect is found to be guilty then set the conditions of penalty. Shame on you Ballard Mom, none of us are immune to what our loved ones or off-spring may do as individuals responsible for their own actions regardless of upbringing.

    I am not defending nor prosecuting the suspect for his actions. He is a suspect and until he is proven guilty in a court of law, he, as we all do, deserves a fair trial NOT a public hanging.

    And thank you Ballard News for NOT censoring your comments and hiding the ugliness that exists in this community. My condolences and compassion to the family of the slain man, it is horrible and heart-rendering. We can choose to continue the rendering or come together and consciously and positively support, heal and evolve.

    “…. the presumption of innocence is essential to the criminal process. The mere mention of the phrase ‘presumed innocent’ keeps judges and juries focused on the ultimate issue at hand in a criminal case: whether the prosecution has proven beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant committed the alleged acts. The people of the United States have rejected the alternative to a presumption of innocenceā€”a presumption of guiltā€”as being inquisitorial and contrary to the principles of a free society.” http://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Innocent+until+proven+guilty

  32. As an add-on to my previous comment about “a sick and judgemental community” being revealed within these comments, there are also comments that reveal exactly the opposite: a compassionate, intelligent and fair-justice minded community. We are all guilty and innocent of both behaviors and responsible for our reactions and actions. Long-live our free society.

  33. I blame Richard Sherman for making thuggery socially acceptable– dare I say fashionable, in this segregated town.

  34. The suspect had a pick-6 so we should cut him some slack? Are you seriously writing that?

    Oh ok, let’s cut him some slack because he can run down a field with a ball. Good Christ.

    And Chris +1000.

  35. @46

    Thousands of kids have been through Ballard High school football program. One of them murders someone. Yep, I blame American football! No soccer player ever killed anyone after all, so it’s almost like science.

  36. Finally the Seattle Times gets it right:

    According to an affidavit of probable cause outlining the police case, the boy told detectives he confronted the victim, David L. Peterson, in the 8500 block of 1st Avenue Northwest and attempted to steal his cell phone. Peterson walked away and called 911, at which point the boy confronted him a second time and shot Peterson in the chest, the affidavit says.

    The boy then took the phone, according to police.

  37. Why shouldn’t he be tried as a minor?
    Does he have a previous record?
    The police have no business stating that they are certain he will be tried as an adult.
    Police officers and firemen alike typically have little education to back up such claims.

  38. @52

    I never said football is to blame. Just like video games are not to blame. Or rap music. Or any other pop culture phenomenon that people have tried to claim to be a source of criminal behavior. My point – which apparently is too subtle for your bumper sticker, black/white mindset to comprehend – is that we are more lenient on athletes when they do something wrong. You made the mental midget mistake of jumping to a correlation=causation conclusion which isn’t my point at all. Sorry you’re not sharp enough to figure that out.

  39. @55 Because if he’s tried as a juvenile he could get out when he turns 18 or after just 5 years.

    If it was your loved one, would you think that’s justice?

    30 years to life, minimum. Ballard High School’s last murderer, Elijah Hall, got 27 years for the murder of Manish Melwani in 2009. A horrible crime that he committed at age 17. So Byron will be in the Big House a very, very, very long time.

  40. “I never said football is to blame. ”

    “When youā€™re telling people to go out there and destroy people, kill them, tear them apart, etc. should it really come as a surprise when behavior that is acceptable on the grid iron spills out into daily life?”

    Which one is it? Pick a lane and stick to it.

  41. I’ve read all the comments and trying to objectively consider the points people madeā€¦some of them seem solid and others literally absurd or perhaps simply uneducated. For example: @50 Ballard Mom said, “No soccer player ever killed anyone after all, so it’s almost like science.”
    REALLY?!!!!! Are you drunk or something? A simple internet search coupling any sport with any crime will prove to you that crime is committed by ALL kinds of people. How about the young adult soccer team-member of the 2014 WORLD CUP team who just admitted he killed his girlfriend and fed her to his dogs and dumped their 4 month old baby in a slum . . . his motives, upbringing, etcetera beside the pointā€¦. that with every one of Ballard Mom’s posts, I lost every ounce of hope that an educated, thinking brain of some kind was behind them. What do you think science is anyway? I may feel inclined to judge harshly against someone who did murder but ultimately, we should use intelligence to determine what to do with them. Not the blind, deaf, dumb angry villager mob mentality muck splattered all over this comment thread.

  42. @Ballard Momā€¦ either way, thank you for confirming that you are not to be taken seriously. :) Oh wait, I think everyone else already figured that out and I just came in late. I just might go have a martini now knowing we have “moms” like this to trust with the upbringing of our next generations.

  43. Just another black.

    Canada has guns but very little crime. What they don’t have is these retarded farm animals running loose.

  44. I wonder how this kid can go to high school and carry a gun. I would check his record at school was he going everyday do he have a disiplinary problem ? This is were it boils down to I come nothing has been done to provent this from happening

  45. OMG, Ballard Mom you are just trying to get a rise out of the community. Does this make you a better person? Go take a walk, get exercise, reduce your stress. Stop trying to make this about something it isn’t.

    Unfortunately a young man did an extremely dumb thing, and yes he should be punished for this. We don’t know about his parental influence, maybe he grew up on the streets, we do not know and shouldn’t pass judgment on his parents.

    Go away and bug someone else.

  46. Wow. Anonymous commenting does not appear to produce anything remotely resembling productive public discourse.

    Is there a neighborhood forum where only those with confirmed identities are allowed to comment? I would like to be able to share and discuss thoughts, feelings, and ideas about this case, but I’m not about to do it here!

  47. “Unfortunately a young man did an extremely dumb thing,”

    Dumb? Sorry, riding without a bike helmet? That’s dumb. Jumping on the couch? That’s dumb. Arming yourself, robbing someone and shooting them in the chest? That’s not dumb. That’s morally repugnant.

  48. Ballard Mom, talk about blaming parents? Boy, I sure hope you are not a parent and that you are merely 15 years old. If you are a parent, your kid/s must resent you, and if they don’t resent you, then they are total opposite of you. On the same note (if you have kids and they don’t resent you), it goes to show you that regardless of how you raise your kids, potential is limitless. This is a shout out to Sam too, and any others that think bashing the parents and passing judgment on them is OK without knowing who they are or what they have done/not done for their son.

  49. Ah yes, the young man had a fine set of values he learned from his parents. From his charging papers and confession:

    “”The documents alleged White was disappointed that the cellphone he had taken from Peterson ā€œwas not a nicer model.ā€”

    Apparent he learned to appreciate the finer things in life growing up.

  50. @Ballard Mom: I truly hope none of your children EVER do anything stupid. Most of them do, despite great parenting. Perhaps you won’t be so judgmental then. This young man is from a two-parent family and was described as very respectful. When your child does something illegal, will you turn him or her into the police for arrest?

  51. Stupid? Is that what you call shooting someone in the chest and then complaining that the phone you stole from the man you just murdered wasn’t nice enough?

    Stupid is as stupid does I suppose.

  52. There is something seriously wrong with this kid, and anyone who shoots someone in the chest after trying to steal a cell phone. I admire his mother for turning him in.

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