Seattle's unsolved murder cases: 2008-2012

Nearly five years ago, more than 100 teenage kids packed into a space on Elliott Avenue West for a dance and party. The flyer passed out by Franklin High School students said to "leave your beef in your hood" – but that didn't happen.

Late that January night, 17-year-old Allen Joplin was fatally shot in the head in front of several witnesses. A 13-year-old girl was shot in the leg.

The killer has never been charged, in part because people who saw him don't want to be known as a "snitch," police said. Joplin's death is one of more than 25 unsolved murders in Seattle since 2008.

Earlier this year, Seattle police unveiled their "Catch a Killer" page, which briefly details each case since 2010 with a picture of the victim.

The gallery above takes a further look at each of the unsolved Seattle murder cases since 2008.

Investigation documents show police have suspects in several cases, but they still need people – even those who want to remain anonymous - to give tips at (206) 233-5000 or 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

While the shooting and lack of witness cooperation are alarming, statistics show Seattle still has a low murder rate for a city its size. The number of people killed in Seattle this year – 23 – is still one-third of the deadliest year in Seattle, 1994, which department records show had 69 murders.

Joplin was one of four juveniles killed in 2008. While the deaths sparked outrage in the community and the Seattle mayor's office, all four fatal shootings are still among those technically unsolved.

In some gang-related cases, people known to talk with police have been targets of retaliation violence, which is one reason some witnesses have been reluctant to help investigators.

Court documents link the violent outbreak in 2008 to a long-standing Seattle gang feud. While prosecutors don't have enough to charge any of the murder cases, some of the key suspects have been aggressively prosecuted for other offenses.

Prosecutors say gangs from the Central District – the East Union Street Hustlers and the Deuce-8s, a subset of the Black Gangster Disciples – have had a long running feud with several South Seattle gangs as well as the Low Profile gang.

The feud is commonly said to have started with the 2005 murder of Deuce-8 leader Terrell Milam by Low Profile member Omar Norman, according to prosecutors. When Norman was convicted for that murder in 2009, there was a fight and near-riot in the King County Superior Courthouse.

In response, federal authorities have targeted East Union Street Hustlers and Deuce-8 members. Several have been sent to prison after the work of U.S. Attorney Vince Lombardi (grandson of the legendary Green Bay Packers coach of the same name) and others.

For a detailed description of each Seattle murder from 2008 through 2011, click on the links below.

List of 2011 murders in Seattle

List of 2010 murders in Seattle

List of 2009 murders in Seattle

List of 2008 murders in Seattle

Casey McNerthney can be reached at 206-448-8220 or at caseymcnerthney@seattlepi.com. Follow Casey on Twitter at twitter.com/mcnerthney.

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