Seattle Bus Driver Fatally Stabbed; Suspect Charged with Murder

Richard Sitzlack faces first-degree murder charges for the killing of Shawn Yim, with prosecutors citing a history of violent behavior.

King County Metro bus driver Shawn Yim, 59, was fatally stabbed on December 18 after an argument with a passenger escalated into violence in Seattle's University District.
The suspect, Richard Sitzlack, a 53-year-old homeless man, was arrested on December 21 with the help of two bus drivers who identified and reported him to police.
Prosecutors have charged Sitzlack with premeditated first-degree murder, second-degree assault, and third-degree assault, with a deadly weapon enhancement potentially adding two years to his sentence if convicted.
Court documents reveal Sitzlack was previously investigated for a fatal stabbing in 2023 but was not charged due to insufficient evidence to disprove his self-defense claim.
Yim’s death, the first killing of a Metro driver in 26 years, has prompted renewed calls from the drivers' union for increased safety measures, such as protective barriers and enhanced transit security.