The incident occurred as the teenager was vandalizing a building with graffiti near the intersection of 5th Avenue and Denny Way. The Seattle Police Department responded to reports of a person struck by the monorail and found the young boy unresponsive. Despite the efforts of the Seattle Fire Department personnel, he tragically succumbed to his injuries.
Video footage reviewed by the officers revealed that the teen had been spray painting a building adjacent to the monorail tracks before the accident occurred. The monorail, which runs along Fifth Avenue between The Seattle Center and Westlake Center, remained closed for the rest of the evening but resumed operations on Monday morning. The elevated track reaches heights of up to 30 feet.
WATCH: BIDEN CLAIMS INFLATION WAS 9% WHEN HE GOT IN OFFICE
Local news outlet KOMO News reported that the building's exterior brick wall along 5th Avenue was covered in graffiti, with some also found on the rooftop. The monorail's concrete guideway and tracks were also spray painted in multiple places. Warning signs cautioning people to stay away from the monorail were present on the roof. Additionally, workers discovered a backpack near the area where the teenager was located prior to the accident and turned it over to the police.
WATCH VIVEK: "WHAT IS THE CRIME THAT DONALD TRUMP COMMITTED?"
The Seattle Police and the King County Medical Examiner are currently investigating the incident to determine the exact circumstances surrounding the tragedy.
August 02, 2023
This incident has reignited the ongoing debate surrounding graffiti vandalism in Seattle. City council member Teresa Mosqueda, who is also a candidate for the King County Council, has previously referred to graffiti vandalism as "unsolicited creative expression" and cited Urban Artworks project director Paul Nunn in support of this view. Mosqueda has criticized Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell's plans to address the issue, arguing that it benefits "for-profit graffiti removal businesses." She also opposes pressing charges against prolific taggers.
ANIMAL PRIDE: NBC'S UPCOMING 'QUEER PLANET' EXPOSES NATURE’S HIDDEN LGBTQ+ LIFE
In June, a US District Court Judge issued an injunction preventing the city from enforcing its anti-graffiti ban. This came in response to a lawsuit filed by activists who were arrested in 2021 for defacing walls with phrases such as "BLM" and anti-police expletives. The activists argued that their actions were a form of protest.
WILL BIDEN’S DEBATE DEMANDS TURN THE TIDE OR DROWN HIS CHANCES?
August 02, 2023
The prevalence of graffiti vandalism in Seattle has become a cause for concern. Fox News contributor Elizabeth Economou described the city as being covered in defaced public and private property, including storefronts, apartment buildings, commercial vehicles, highways, bridges, street signs, and recycling bins. No area seems to be spared from this urban scrawl, with even historic sites falling victim to taggers.
Discover alternative ideas that will make you think
Engage in mind bending debate
Earn points, rise in rank, have fun
