Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan. File photo

Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan. File photo

Auburn man charged with threatening to kill Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan

Reportedly made phone call April 27

Seattle Police say an Auburn man left a death threat on Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan’s main office telephone line on April 27.

According to court records, Rashidi Slaughter, 42, identified himself by name on the voicemail, which likewise recorded his phone number, and declared: “I’m going to kill you and I am going to kill your whole family. Do you understand me?”

Police said Durkan and her staff took the threat seriously.

On April 29, the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office filed a single charge of felony harassment against Slaughter.

As of May 4, Slaughter was in King County Jail on $150,000 bail because there is ample reason to believe he will commit a violent offense, Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Yessenia Manzo told the judge at the bail hearing.

“Given the current threat to kill, the report of mental health concerns in combination with his criminal history, the state has significant victim and community safety concerns,” Manzo said.

Slaughter’s arraignment is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. May 13 in room E1201A of the King County Courthouse in Seattle.

Here, according to the certification for determination of probable cause prepared by Officer Christopher Myers of the Seattle Police Department and forwarded to the prosecutor’s office, is a summary of what happened.

At 3:04 a.m. April 27, according to court papers, Slaughter called Durkan’s Seattle office and left the following voicemail:

“Ms. Jenny Durkan, this will be an easy game for you to play,” court records quote Slaughter as saying. “I’m not going to tell you my name but my telephone number is … and guess what, my name is on the answering machine. If you don’t let me put a civil rights no-contact order on anybody I want to, guess what, I don’t know if I’m going to be able to but I’m going to kill you and gonna kill your whole family. Do you understand?…

“…When somebody’s killing and hurting and torturing you and the whole state of Washington is behind it, including (unintelligible) my mother … my name is Rashidi Slaughter. I’m gonna figure out how to get civil no-contact orders on the whole state of Washington, every man, woman and child of every nationality, including the whole [expletive] government and I don’t want any police in my life ever again. I want protective custody away from you white Ku Klux Klan skinhead Aryan Nation white supremacists. Now you gimme a call, [expletive],” the voicemail concludes.

At 10:04 a.m. that same day, according to court records, one of the mayor’s front desk assistants heard the message, believed the threat was real, and reported it to her supervisors and then to the Seattle Police Department. SPD confirmed the phone number did in fact belong to Slaughter.

According to court records, a police records inquiry turned up 71 arrests and seven previous felony convictions, among them: felony harassment, 2013; custodial assault, 2008; third-degree assault, 2006; and second-degree attempted robbery, 2006.

According to court records, Slaughter’s legal history is likewise checkered with a number of misdemeanor harassment and felony convictions and violations of misdemeanor no-contact orders.

According to court records, a Seattle police officer took Slaughter into custody later that same day without incident, although he refused to answer questions.

According to court records, Slaughter has been diagnosed with several mental health disorders, and his family confirmed his deteriorating mental health.

As of March 2021, Slaughter, a longtime Tacoma resident, was living with his brother in Auburn.


Talk to us

Please share your story tips by emailing editor@kentreporter.com.

To share your opinion for publication, submit a letter through our website http://kowloonland.com.hk/?big=submit-letter/. Include your name, address and daytime phone number. (We’ll only publish your name and hometown.) Please keep letters to 300 words or less.

More in Northwest

A northern giant hornet seen on an apple. (Photo courtesy of Washington State Department of Agriculture)
Invasive ‘murder hornets’ found in WA have been eradicated

The hunt for invasive “murder hornets” is over in Washington and the… Continue reading

t
Second suspect arrested in Federal Way IHOP shooting death of 2-year-old

His DNA was reportedly found in the vehicle, and he is thought to be the driver.

t
Antique Marketplace in Auburn loses nearly $10,000 from theft

SEE THE VIDEO: The pair who allegedly carried out the theft had a toddler whom they used as a distraction.

King County District Court (pictured left to right): Judge Raul Martinez, Judge Corinna Harn, Judge Lisa Paglisotti, Judge Fa’amomoi Masaniai, Judge Kristin Shotwell, Judge Rebecca C. Robertson, Judge Peter Peaquin, Judge Jill Klinge, Judge Lisa O’Toole, Judge Kevin Peck, Judge Matthew York, Judge Leah Taguba, Judge Brian Todd, Judge Elizabeth D. Stephenson, Judge Kuljinder Dhillon, Judge Marcus Naylor, Judge Karama H. Hawkins, Judge Nathaniel Green. COURTESY PHOTO
Should Auburn restart its own municipal court?

City leaders are examining the cost and logistics behind current contract with King County.

Photos of Antonio Garcia-Fonseca. Courtesy of GoFundMe.
Federal Way man who shot teen in 2021 pleads guilty to manslaughter

The state recommends a sentence of nine years, six months

Several alternatives are being considered for the next stage of the link light rail linking Federal Way to the Tacoma Dome. These alternatives compare the possibilities for the segment of this section between Federal Way and Fife. Graphic provided by Sound Transit.
Public input sought for Federal Way to Tacoma Dome light rail route

Five options include routes along Interstate 5 or State Route 99. Public comment is open until Feb. 10, 2025.

Courtesy of the Renton Police Department.
24 chihuahuas seized from a Renton home

Many of the dogs were injured, and the home was dirty.

File photo
Glenfield Watkins.
Sexual assault victims file claims against Federal Way school district

The claims stem from former teacher Glenfield Watkins assault on student at Totem Middle School.

t
Auburn man charged with vehicular homicide in FW crash

Documents state his blood alcohol content was 0.132.

t
Auburn Police arrest man for investigation of multiple violent crimes

Detectives seize firearms and high-capacity magazines.

Screenshot of the lawsuit.
Lawsuit dismissed against Federal Way lawyer accused of fraud

The judge granted her motion to dismiss with prejudice, meaning the case is permanently dismissed

t
Charges upgraded for suspect in Federal Way hatchet attack

Noel Esteban, 72, died nearly eight months after being attacked