Vigil held for slain bus driver Shawn Yim, following suspect's arrest

SEATTLE - Roughly 200 people gathered Saturday night in Seattle’s University District to remember Shawn Yim.

The King County Metro bus operator was stabbed to death Wednesday.

"His family. I keep thinking about his family," said one woman in attendance. "He’s gone he’s gone, but his family is left to pick up the pieces."

Vigil for Shawn Yim on Dec. 21, 2024

"It’s dangerous for us out here," said another King County Metro bus operator. "The main thing that we need is protection and obviously improved safety."

Union leaders who knew Yim said he was concerned about that very topic.

"He came up to me and tell me how bad it was out there driving the bus," said AUT Local 587 vice president, Ken Price. "He’d say ‘It’s changed since you were a driver."

Following the fatal stabbing, union workers are calling for immediate action, including increased police presence. "We need to quit talking about it," said Greg Woodfill, president of the AUT Local 587. "This is bigger than Seattle."

Earlier in the day, an alert King County Metro bus driver noticed Yim’s accused killer, Richard Sitzlack asleep on his bus. 

Court documents state he informed his supervisors and waived down police as he approached the stop at Third Avenue South and South Main Street in downtown Seattle.

Sitzlack was processed and brought to Seattle Headquarters for an interview. Court documents revealed more details from police about what happened early Wednesday morning when Yim was killed. 

Documents say that Sitzlack pepper sprayed and punched Yim. Yim then called 911, calling for help as he tried to chase down Sitzlack.

"Hurry please, he’s leaving," the documents say Yim said on the call with 911.

Vigil for Shawn Yim on Dec. 21, 2024

After, the documents note the sound of a struggle with the sound of two voices.

"I’ve been stabbed, I’ve been stabbed, hurry please," the documents say Yim said. "I’m dying right now, hurry please, hurry please."

Officers found Yim dead when they arrived on the scene. 

A passenger on the bus who worked at a tent site that Sitzlack tried to check into identified Sitzlack, helping police track their suspect.

According to documents, police briefly interviewed Sitzlack after his arrest Saturday morning. After reading him his Miranda rights, the documents note Sitzlack apologized. They also noted the scabs on his knuckles.

"Sitzlack stated that he got the injury in the fight with the bus driver. Sitzlack asked for a lawyer and no further questions related to this incident were asked," the document state.

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