Police Seek `Vehicle Of Interest' In Double Slaying -- Third Victim Injured In Tukwila

TUKWILA - Police are seeking the public's help in finding a "vehicle of interest" in a bloody shooting late Saturday that left two people dead and a third seriously injured.

James Bateman, 25, of Tukwila, and Kristen McMullen, 20, of Seattle, were fatally shot shortly after 11 p.m. inside a small rental home at 4604 S. 122nd St. A third victim, a woman, also was shot but was able to call 911. The woman, whose identity was not released, was admitted to Harborview Medical Center, where she was initially listed in critical condition. Her condition was upgraded to serious early today.

At least one neighbor told authorities of a large, brown car seen driving through the quiet, residential neighborhood shortly before the shooting.

The car, possibly a Cadillac, was described as having a painting of a woman, possibly naked, on the hood.

Tukwila police Lt. Craig Westby stopped short of saying the car belonged to a suspect, but he said police would like to identify and talk to the driver.

Police, who are still trying to piece together who lived in the home, have no suspects but are following up a number of leads, Westby said. The Seattle landlord for the property is Quyen Bui.

Westby said Bateman and the injured woman may have lived together at one time at a previous address.

When authorities arrived at the house, they found Bateman dead in the living room and McMullen dead in a bedroom, he said. Both had been shot multiple times. The third victim, who also had been shot numerous times, was found in the same bedroom as the dead woman.

The only other person in the home was a 2-year-old boy, found in a back bedroom, Westby said. The child was turned over to Child Protective Services. It was not known if the boy was related to any of the victims, Westby said.

Westby said police found numerous guns inside the home.

About 10 Tukwila detectives spent hours at the house yesterday, removing evidence from the home, including a 2-by-4-foot section of floorboard.

Some neighbors said they were not surprised by the shooting. Two men who asked not to be named said they suspected drug activity because people were constantly stopping by the house and driving away again.

Jeff Ricketts, who lives next door, backed up that observation. "There were people coming and going all the time. . . . Cars would pull up here, park for 10 minutes, then leave."

Ricketts said he didn't hear anything Saturday night but was awakened about midnight by floodlights and police cars.

------------------------ DO YOU HAVE INFORMATION? ------------------------ People with information about the shooting are urged to call Tukwila police at 433-1808.