Knifing on James St., one man dead
Fisted by stinkfinger under Certified Dead, News, asinine
Sun 11 May 2008
Saw this on the Seattle news. The Herald is carrying the story in their “Public Safety” section. (Who the fuck thought that section name up? Yesterday This morning that section carried the rollmobile story. It should be called “Public Danger” section, or “Public Death and Dismemberment Section.”)
Man dies after York neighborhood stabbing
BELLINGHAM — A Skagit County man is dead after being stabbed during an altercation Sunday afternoon.
Witnesses told police that David L. Datskiy, 20, of Mount Vernon, and his passenger pulled their vehicle over on the 1500 block of James Street about 1 p.m., said Lt. Steve Felmley, Bellingham police spokesman.
Felmley said another man, who police believe was alone, pulled along side Datskiy’s blue Honda from behind. The drivers exited, Felmley said, arguing and exchanging punches before the second driver stabbed Datskiy once with a knife, and fled the scene.
Datskiy’s passenger, a male friend, drove him to St. Joseph Hospital where he later died, Felmley said. Felmley did not know where on the body Datskiy had been stabbed….
A guy who saw it happen said that the dude who was stabbed just fell to his knees. Meanwhile, his assailant got back in his car, did a U-Turn, and waved to the shocked onlookers. He’s still on the lam.
Dude, I can’t even imagine what it’s like to be you, tonight. You only have four choices. You can try to run; you can stay where you are and almost certainly get caught; you can turn yourself in; or you can take that gleaming blade and slash your wrists. Impulsive, homicidal acts tend to land you in that kind of conundrum.
Should have thought with your head instead of your balls.
["Bohemian Rhapsody" begins to play...]
May 12th, 2008 at 9:45 am
That area seems to attract the worst in Bellingham. About 3 blocks from there, under the I-5 overpass, is where the body of that 17 year old girl was found. It’s not even that bad a neighborhood. MUCH better than the south side of Alabama. But for whatever reason, it’s been the site of 2 murders in less than a year.
May 12th, 2008 at 12:42 pm
Datskiy is the name of a very large Ukrainian immigrant family in Skagit County. Many came here as religious refugees. It would not surprise me if this crime was confined to the Ukrainian community.
May 12th, 2008 at 1:22 pm
crime was confined to the Ukrainian community.
I surmised as much, upon combining the name with the experience of having worked with a young Ukrainian man years ago at B’ham Parks & Rec. He was newly arrived, and as I came to know him in the couple of years I worked with him, I came to understand that he admired violence and cruelty. Not that all Ukrainian young men are like this - but he and his friends were.
As for that word “community,” I would say that more appropriate terms might be, “self-insulating,” or “suspicious of outsiders” or simply “clannish.” There are always exceptions to the rule, but in almost every circumstance where I have attempted to interact with Ukrainians, it has become abidingly clear to me that not only am I stranger who spoke to them while waiting in line, but that I am an outsider.
It probably has something to do with coming up under Soviet rule, mandatory paranoia, former religious persecution overseas, language barrier, etc.
May 12th, 2008 at 3:41 pm
This is definitely f&$#@ed up.
2:10pm update from the Herald says they are still searching for the 20 year old murderer.
May 13th, 2008 at 12:57 am
Whoever has any doubt in Davids actions and decisions, must truely not know him.
Although he did have bad times(friends) he always wanted to change and he was doing so! Those who are the closest to him know best, we all loved David no matter what, and you could ask any person he knew(young or old).
No matter what people say, what sort of things he has ever done; no one has the right to take another mans life. Trust me I never felt this way, and I know its because I lost someone so so close to me…and not just me but to all of his family,friends and close ones.
May 13th, 2008 at 7:59 am
no one has the right to take another mans life
Too right.
May 13th, 2008 at 9:04 am
Please make no mistake about my views on this matter: a great wrong has been done here, and the murderer must be apprehended and brought to justice, at any cost.
May 25th, 2008 at 6:30 pm
David was a person i knew
May 31st, 2008 at 2:16 am
I know another member of David’s family because of his occupation, which he is furthering with college, and this kid stands out because he is always kind, exceptionally kind… to take a moment to chat with my kids and see how we are doing. Certainly not part of his job description and goes far beyond the actions of his co-workers. I looked forward to him being there because it was a bright spot in my day. And it wasn’t until later in our contacts that I learned he wasn’t born in America.
I ran into this family member today & I stopped him to say hi because he’s been away at school and he, in the midst of his grief, paused to FIRST look at my kids and comment on how much they’ve grown and to see how I’m doing. I inquired about school and that is when he hinted at his tough start to the summer. I pressed him on the matter and that is why I ended up on your blog - to see what happened to this wonderful person’s loved one.
So it pains me to see the whole thing simplified as something having been “confined to the Community.” As if that cleans it up for the rest of us. In the end there is a family: a mother, a brother, others who are hurting because David has been murdered and suffered on the way to the hospital. It hurts twice to know that your loved one suffered knowingly as they died.
Hope for Justice.
May 31st, 2008 at 10:57 am
It hurts twice to know that your loved one suffered knowingly as they died.
Understood. Been there, watched that.
June 16th, 2008 at 9:55 pm
It looks like they caught the creep that killed David.
http://q13.trb.com/news/kcpq-061208-roadragearrest,0,2939949.story