Monday is the deadline for the King County Prosecutor to bring charges against the suspect in last week’s fatal hatchet attack at 15th and Union. 26-year-old suspect Michael LaRosa is jailed on $5 million bail after the brutal killing of 58-year-old 14th Ave resident Joe LaMagno in last Monday’s 10:37 AM attack.

We rounded-up recent coverage of the murder here and posted the complete police report in which LaRosa is documented telling investigators that he has been diagnosed as schizophrenic and that he had been hearing voices prior to the attack.

UPDATE: In comments on a post she created on Central District News, East Precinct Crime Prevention Coalition head Stephanie Tschida said she is working to organize a forum to discuss plans for “a possible residential facility treating men with psychiatric problems.” We’re following up to find out more about the forum and the possible treatment facility.

Following up on 14th and Union Tragedy

Thank you for your feedback on my request for ideas to support your community as a response to the November 22nd tragic incident. A few mentioned that ‘forums’ don’t really help the situation. If I, or other EPCPC representatives had our own way in the world, things may be different. Unfortunately, we don’t, so we do the best we can within our capacity. Proactive, doable ideas would be welcomed as a better alternative…

“A neighbor”, however, has requested that we facilitate a gathering of 14th and Union area neighbors, SAAS and Catholic Community Center representatives to discuss the plans for a possible residential facility treating men with psychiatric problems. With the understanding that everyone becomes very busy around the holidays, is it soon enough to schedule this meeting in early January? Or try for the week of December 13th?

Thanks for your engagement.

Regards,

Stephanie Tschida, Chair

East Precinct Crime Prevention Coalition

UPDATE x2: King County Prosecutor’s office tells us to expect details of charges against LaRosa on Tuesday.

Slog has posted an interview with the suspect’s brother after he turned up in their comments.

To the criminal justice and mental health systems of Washington State, he asks: “Why don’t you skip the part where someone gets killed, even if you have to lock him up?”