Madison April Jones

A first appearance judge at Christopher Leahy’s hearing today found probable cause for Murder in the First Degree with a Deadly Weapon Enhancement, with a bail set at $10 million. The hearing was held at 2pm in a King County Jail courtroom, after Leahy turned himself in to Bellevue police at around 10:30pm last night. “The horrific nature and brutal execution of this attack leaves the court making a finding that he’s substantially likely to commit a violent offense in the future” the judge said. The autopsy report released by the court found that, “the victim had suffered over 40 stab wounds to the head, neck, shoulder, arms and hands and had died from blood loss therefrom.” Court documents also reveal that Juniper Blessing was the name of the 19 y/o Transgender victim. Several friends of Blessing told the SGN that she identified as a woman, and used both she/her and they/them pronouns. The family of the victim also released a statement about the death of their child. “Our family has been shattered by the loss of our child, Juniper Blessing, to an act of unspeakable violence near the University of Washington campus in Seattle. Juniper was simply the most amazing human being we have ever known – highly intelligent, extremely talented, and deeply sensitive to the needs of others. Juniper’s loss not only devastates us but diminishes the world.” “Juniper was courageously living their life as who they were until it was cut tragically short. Blessed with many loving friends, family members and mentors, Juniper will be deeply missed.” Follow us and read the updated articles at

🏳️‍🌈 Is Seattle now an LGBTQ+ refuge? #seattle #lgbtq #gayright #queerrights

The suspect potentially responsible for the homicide of a 19 y/o trans student has now been identified as 31 y/o Christopher Leahy. According to King County Jails, the suspect had been booked at 3:45am in the morning. *SPD officials say he turned himself in to Bellevue Police at 10:20pm last night* An anonymous source who is working with the family of the deceased victim confirmed to the SGN that their child used they/them pronouns. The source also said, “the family does not want media attention, but they do want their [child] represented honorably and respectfully.” The suspect is scheduled for his first appearance at 2 p.m. today in King County Jail Courtroom No. 1 at 500 5th Ave., Seattle, WA 98104 This is an ongoing story, please read the full article and check in for future updates at .

A suspect is still at large after a 19 y/o presumed Transgender woman was found deceased on May 10 in the laundry room of an off-campus, U-Village student housing complex Nordheim Court by UW police officers. Law enforcement officials have now released three photographs, and have given an updated description of the suspect. Seattle Police Department is encouraging member of the public to dial 911 if they see the suspect. Those who know him, or have information about him, should call the Violent Crimes Tip Line at 206-233-5000, with anonymous tips being accepted. This is an ongoing story, please check in for updates and read the full article at

On the Trans Day of Visibility last month, Seattle’s LGBTQ Commission @seattlelgbtq submitted a letter of recommendation to the Mayor’s Office, City Council, and City Attorney’s Office that requested that City officials declare a civil emergency in response to the increasing number of Trans and Queer people fleeing hostile environments in other states. An anonymous source told the SGN that the letter has since been received, and discussions between City officials and community members behind closed doors indicate Seattle is on the cusp of declaring a state of emergency for LGBTQIA+ refugees before Pride Month in June. In its letter, the Seattle LGBTQ Commission compiled data (including from the Movement Advancement Project and the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago) regarding internally displaced persons (IDPs) that have left red states to find refuge in the city. The commission wrote that “many IDPs have relocated from states such as Texas, Florida, Tennessee, Kansas, and Idaho due to anti-trans legislation, threats to personal safety, and barriers to healthcare and legal recognition.” Read the full article at

A suspect is still at large after a 19 y/o presumed Transgender woman was found deceased on May 10 in the laundry room of an off-campus, University of Washington student housing complex in U-Village Nordheim Court by UW police officers, according to Seattle Police Department Detective Eric Muñoz who told NBC on Monday. Law enforcement officials say they are currently on the search for a Black man with a beard, around 5’6”-5’8’ feet tall, “wearing a vest with a button-up shirt, and blue jeans.” SPD Chief Shon Barnes told the SGN so far the department has not been able to verify the identity, including the Trans identity, of the victim as of May 11. The department is still waiting for the presumed family to confirm those details. Assistant Chief Nicole Powell said of the situation that, “I think it is very important that we identify the victim correctly,” in regards to how the victim might have identified. Assistant Chief Powell said the search for the suspect is ongoing, “right now we are going through a lot of video footage, canvassing the area.” She also told the SGN that her department is still waiting for a preliminary report from the King County Medical Examiner to confirm the exact cause of death for the victim, though she confirmed UW Police responded to a call reporting a stabbing yesterday at around 10:10pm. Seattle Police Department is encouraging members of the public with any information to call the Violent Crimes Tip Line at 206-233-5000, with anonymous tips being accepted. This is an ongoing story, please check in to for the full article and future updates.

In late April, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives announced that it will be looking to change regulations that may complicate Transgender people’s ability to purchase firearms. According to the ATF website, the agency is proposing to update Form 4473 (a firearms transaction record) to require all applicants to use only their sex marker assigned at birth, even if their legal documentation has been amended. Some advocates for both Trans and Second Amendment rights fear these new changes will intimidate Trans people and potentially obfuscate their ability to obtain firearms legally — and that this may set a precedent for further incursions on gun and Trans rights by the federal government in the future. Nell is the founder of @arm.the.dolls an all Trans-run group dedicated to educating Trans communities across the country about gun rights, ownership, and safety. She told the SGN she created the group last October in response to both the federal administration’s threats to revoke Second Amendment rights for Trans people and the assault of Trans woman Nicki Armstrong in Renton, Washington. The SGN also spoke with Scarlett, who is also part of Arm the Dolls as well as being as a competitive shooter, an employee at a firearms store, and “someone who grew up around an environment with guns.” The proposed ATF rule is currently open for public comment on its website, find the link in our Linktree or in our full article at sgn.org!

During International Workers Day last Friday, the SGN’s Madison Jones @wuming1997 got to speak with Neumos Workers Stand United @neumosworkers member Ozzy (pronounced Oh-zee) about how the recent organizing efforts have gone so far. #seattle #news

On a rainy evening, while ensconced within his I-5 adjacent Eastlake residence, 87-year-old George Freeman got serious about an issue that has been negatively impacting him and other Capitol Hill seniors for years. “The bathrooms were fine until about 2020,” he said, while leaning forward. “Then they locked them. And that changed everything.” Freeman, a longtime figure of the Capitol Hill and Gay communities, is these days best known for being the founder and presiding chaplain of the Universal Life Church Monastery. However, after his much-reported tribulations in attempting to restore restroom access at the Quality Food Center stores near his home, he has filed a lawsuit in the King County Superior Court against the company, the owners of a Capitol Hill QFC building, and local government agencies. At its core, the complaint argues a simple notion: that access to a restroom is not just a convenience but a civil right. According to the filing, Freeman alleges that the QFC store on Broadway Ave. and E. Pike St. in Seattle systematically denied customers access to restrooms, even when those customers disclosed medical conditions requiring urgent use. The filing also alleges that QFC has been derelict in its obligations to follow federal and state laws, as well as city municipal code that requires commercial buildings over a certain square footage to provide restroom access. Read the full article about the lawsuit at , or in our May 2026 issue out now!

[SEIU Part 2] During Seattle’s May Day Rally, @wuming1997 got a chance to talk with two members of @seiu925 about their union, including about the SEIU’s Lavender caucus 🏳️‍🌈 #seattle #news

[SEIU Part 1] During Seattle’s May Day Rally, @wuming1997 got a chance to talk with two members of two different SEIU chapters about their union 🌹 #seattle #news

Today at Seattle’s May Day Rally, the SGN’s Madison Jones @wuming1997 got a chance to speak with several labor unions, including the president of @teamsters117 Maria Williams 🌹 #seattle #news