A 48-year-old man, Jahmed Kamal Haynes, has been charged with first-degree murder, second-degree assault, and first-degree animal cruelty for carjacking an 80-year-old Seattle dog walker, Ruth Dalton. The incident occurred in Seattle’s Madison Valley neighborhood at approximately 10 a.m. on a Tuesday. Haynes allegedly entered Dalton’s vehicle and attempted to take control, pushing her out onto the road and running her over as he drove away. Despite bystanders’ attempts to intervene, Dalton tragically passed away at the scene.
Following the carjacking, Haynes proceeded to stab Dalton’s dog to death in a park, further showcasing the brutality of his actions. Upon responding to reports of a man harming a dog in the park, Seattle police officers were able to identify Haynes and arrest him near his residence. During his arrest, Haynes was found in possession of a bloodied knife and the keys to Dalton’s Subaru.
Prosecutors highlighted Haynes’s extensive history of violent offenses, including a conviction for vehicular homicide in 1993 and subsequent convictions for robbery and vehicle theft in 1999. Additionally, while incarcerated for previous crimes, Haynes assaulted two corrections officers using a sharpened piece of metal in 2003, underscoring his dangerous propensity for violence.
Considering the severity of the present charges and Haynes’s history of violence spanning three decades, the prosecuting attorney argued for a no-bail hold, emphasizing the imminent danger he poses to the community. The judge concurred with the attorney’s assessment, ultimately deciding to hold Haynes without bail. Haynes is set to be arraigned on September 5, and it remains unclear if he has legal representation or will be assigned one by the King County Public Defense office.
