The man implicated in the fatal stabbing of a King County Metro bus driver is set to make a court appearance today. Richard Sitzlack, 53, stands accused of the second-degree murder with a deadly weapon and third-degree assault in the death of Shawn Yim, 59, who was killed during a confrontation that occurred near the University of Washington back on December 18. Seattle authorities managed to apprehend Sitzlack on a Metro bus in December, just a few days after the incident, as reported by FOX 13 Seattle. If convicted of the charges against him, he could potentially to be sentenced to up to 32 years behind bars.
Adding a layer to the narrative, KOMO News uncovered that Sitzlack had a brush with the law in November 2023 for the murder of his roommate, yet charges were not filed due to a lack of evidence to counter his claims of self-defense. This history raises questions about potential signs missed or actions that might have been taken.
The tragic death of Yim marks the first time a King County Metro bus driver has been killed while on duty since November 1998. Greg Woodfill, president of Amalgamated Transit Union 587, expressed frustration over the slow response to calls for increased transit safety. "We need to quit talking about it," Woodfill forcefully told KOMO News. He recounted his efforts, saying, "I’ve been calling for five months to have a task force for transit safety in this area, I’ve talked to every politician in this area and it hasn’t happened."
