(Image: Black Crown)
A well known character in the Capitol Hill music and nightlife scene is recovering this week after being shot three times Monday night in a West Seattle robbery attempt.
Rick Powell, who also works the doors at E Pike bars and clubs and is a member of Seattle band Theories, was driving for the Black Crown car service Monday night when he was shot in an exchange of gunfire with a man trying to rob him:
The victim — who had a concealed weapon permit — drew his own gun, but Garcia-Mendez opened fire, striking the 27-year-old man several times in the chest.
The victim fired off several shots of own, hitting Garcia-Mendez in the hand and hip.
Powell was rushed to the hospital and has undergone surgery for his injuries. Friends say he is expected to make a full recovery. To help with medical bills, friends and his coworkers at Black Crown are holding online fundraisers:
- Rick Powell Fund: Current status — $4,176 of $5,000 goal
- Black Crown Rick Powell Fund: Current status — $5,000 of $25,000 goal
There is also a benefit planned to support Powell on April 18th at the Highline.
I went to school with Rick from grade school on and now we work/live in the same area. Don’t even know him now but, hearing this bums me the fuck out. Hopes for a full and speedy recovery.
This is upsetting, Rick is a great and friendly guy. He has many shocked friends. Myself included.
Without a doubt in my mind, if it wasn’t for Rick’s actions, he would have been left for dead and the suspect would had never been caught. So proud of Rick, and thankful here’s still here with us.
This is a horrible story and my heart goes out to the victim and his friends and family. However, we’ll never know if bringing another firearm into play resulted in escalating the situation — I’m not blaming the victim here. It sounds like a terrifying situation. That being said if the outcome had been better or worse I can see that the perpetrator would likely still be at large.
I’m delighted to learn that Mr. Powell is expected to make a full recovery. Hopefully the scumbag thug who attacked him will not. Let this serve as a warning to other lowlife trash that as long as Americans remain free to legally defend themselves with deadly force, as Mr. Powell did, the “thuglife” profession is a very poor choice if there’s any interest in a long and happy life. You reap what you sow on this Earth.