You might not have remembered Todd Grendahl if you ever passed him on a Seattle street, but to countless people in need who lived on Seattle streets, he was known as a quiet angel of generosity.
Now, those countless people are mourning his death after Grendahl, 55, was attacked and struck in the head in the hallways of his Pioneer Square apartment on Nov. 7 by a neighbor who ran a business in the same building.
"It's just senseless that someone would hurt him," said Grendahl's brother Warren. "I mean he was a good person. The guy who hit him obviously didn't know him."
Tejuan Thomas, 42, who ran a tattoo studio in the same building at 308 4th Ave. S., is charged with second-degree murder after he hit Grendahl over the head with a handgun, believing Grendahl was trying to break into a vending machine, according to prosecutors--who say surveillance video shows Thomas attacking Grendahl--unprovoked--from behind.
Seattle police say Thomas flagged down an officer after he hit Grendahl, complaining that someone was trying to shake the vending machine in the building's hallway. Officers say Grendahl was seen bleeding from his ear, complaining, "That guy hit me in the head for no reason." Police say Grendahl refused to be transported to the hospital, but later showed signs of severe brain trauma and was rushed to Virginia Mason Medical Center, where he died Nov. 12.
What is unclear in police documents is why Thomas was not arrested immediately for assault. Detectives questioned and arrested him days later, and despite being shown video evidence showing him hitting Grendahl, they said Thomas insisted he ever touched him. Thomas is being held on $2 million.
"He gave people everything he had, until there was nothing left."
Grendahl's family told KIRO-7 he was known on Seattle streets as a charitable hero. "It made him feel good on the inside to help somebody who was struggling," said close friend Deanna Lafrombois. "He helped a lot of people, even when he was down and out and didn't have much, he would always share what he did have," said Warren Grendahl.
"He won the lottery and gave it all away."
Glendahl's family says a few years ago, he won $50,000 on a $20 scratch-off ticket, and they say after buying a used car, he immediately went out to find people who needed the money.
"He came and gave us a thousand to help us for Christmas," said Lafrombois. "He went around giving people hundreds and said 'Here go get some food, go get some socks, go to McDonald's.' He literally gave it away until he was broke."
A Seattle homeless outreach organization called Reach helped Todd Grendahl get an apartment six months ago.
People who were helped by Todd Grendahl gathered recently to share his philosophy--to share everything you have.
"He said, 'It was given to me and I was blessed with it,' so he needed to bless other people," said Lafrombois. "And that's how you keep it going. He said, 'That's how you keep the blessings coming, is you give them away."'
But Lafrombois and Warren Grendahl are asking why Seattle police didn't arrest Thomas immediately, when they found Todd Grendahl bleeding in the hallway--saying he was attacked.
"Was it because of Todd's appearance?" asked Lafrombois. "Was it because he appeared to be a dirty homeless person who didn't matter? Because, Todd was somebody. He's was not a nobody."
Todd Grendahl's family is working to raise $2,000 for his burial, according to the family's Facebook post.
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