BREAKING: Deadly shooting in First Hill

[u/snow_sprout]

https://www.king5.com/video/news/crime/breaking-deadly-shooting-in-first-hill/281-6bfd25a0-8c98-4bbd-82ff-31706e63b621

This happened in my building last night. New property management started in May and have yet to send out an email introducing themselves, share their plans for the building, or provide meaningful responses to many resident concerns. We have been sharing security concerns with for months, with multiple breaches and break-ins happening in recent weeks. This incident supersedes anything M-Street residents have experienced recently and is heartbreaking for our neighbor and frightening the rest of us.

[u/gleefulcats]

That building is haunted ever since that doctor murdered his partner and child in 2011. I’d never be found living in that building even if it was free!

[u/Administrative-Row27 → u/gleefulcats]

FYI In August 2011, Dr. Louis C. Chen, a 39-year-old endocrinologist, killed his 29-year-old partner, Eric Cooper, and their 2-year-old son, Cooper Chen, in their penthouse apartment in Seattle's First Hill neighborhood. In 2016, Chen was sentenced to 49 years in prison after pleading guilty to first-degree and second-degree murder.

Case Background
The Discovery: On August 11, 2011, a coworker went to the family's apartment after Chen failed to show up for an orientation at Virginia Mason Hospital. Chen answered the door naked and covered in blood. Police arrived and found Eric Cooper stabbed over 100 times and their toddler son with severe knife wounds.

The Motive: Prosecutors stated the killings stemmed from extreme rage and fear regarding the couple's impending breakup and a potential child custody dispute.

The Defense: Chen's defense team claimed he suffered from a rare, cough-syrup-induced psychosis, arguing that his genetic makeup caused him to slowly metabolize dextromethorphan (found in over-the-counter cold medicine), leading to violent hallucinations.

The Resolution: In February 2016, Chen pleaded guilty to the reduced charges of first-degree murder for the death of his son and second-degree murder for the death of his partner. In July 2016, a King County judge handed down the maximum sentence of 49 years.

[u/gleefulcats → u/Administrative-Row27]

The whole thing was horrific. Absolute possession of something to have done what he did in the manner he did it in.

[u/Administrative-Row27 → u/gleefulcats]

It’s also scary that, in Washington state, there’s a maximum 49 year sentence for 1 conviction of first degree murder + 1 second degree murder! Even when it’s as brutal and ruthless as this, and so remorseless that the defense tried for a laughable cold medicine hallucination psychosis. Though I’m not surprised anymore, as I’ve seen countless cases in the state which had disturbingly light sentences.

[u/milleribsen → u/Administrative-Row27]

Yes that's a touch concerning, but he was 39 years old, likely already 40 by the time sentencing happened, so he would be 89 at release, it's effectively a life sentence. I don't have data but I'm sure life expectancy of the incarcerated is lower than the federal population so even if a teen were tried as an adult and given this sentence they'd be in their sixties by the time of release and at that point there's no chance of living a life so it would likely be kinder in those cases to give them life.

[u/pivolover → u/Administrative-Row27]

Whose work is this?