Neighborhood on edge after deadly shooting outside Newcastle library

NEWCASTLE, Wash. — People in Newcastle are on edge after learning about a deadly shooting right outside a public library early Monday morning.

“I was just at the library with my son the other day, so it’s just scary to think that you can’t be safe in your own neighborhood no matter where you live these days,” said Bethany Coccia.

Around 2:30 a.m. on Monday, King County deputies received a call about gunshots fired near Newcastle Way and Coal Creek Parkway Southeast.

“I saw the police activity outside of our window, and I knew something was going on,” said Coccia.

Investigators say a man was shot and killed outside the Newcastle Library.

“I did hear that there was [sic] gunshots around 2 a.m -- we live just around the corner from here, (and) we did not hear anything,” said Coccia.

Investigators say the shots stemmed from a domestic violence incident involving a 23-year-old woman and a 26-year-old man. The man died at the scene and the woman was arrested.

“We genuinely think of Newcastle as a safe place. A safe place to be, safe place to live — you know, we’re never worried to walk the streets or anything, so it’s really concerning to hear something like this is happening in our neighborhood,” said Coccia. “I’ve lived in Newcastle for 31 years. I’ve never heard of anything like this happening here before, and if I have, it was long ago.”

Police closed Newcastle Way for several hours while they gathered evidence.

Neighbors said it was sad to hear how the situation ended.

“People are reacting instead of, you know — they got a gun, they just use it,” said Brett Peless.

“I feel like if there were more public, mental health, you know, if it was more available, more people would seek help, and I feel like people just don’t, and they feel stuck, and they resort to these kinds of dangerous situations that now have an impact on the public,” said Coccia.

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