The 2012 Cafe Racer Murder Spree
For this case I watched an episode of Evil Lives Here. It’s season 5 episode 5, titled ‘He’s Still My Son.’
For this case, I will be talking about this episode, the shooter and the victims. This case is more about the shooter, told from the perspective of his dad, Walter.
Background
Ian Stawicki was born on September 16, 1971. He was 40 years old at the time of the crime, and he committed suicide on the same day, before he could be arrested by police.
Ian suffered from mental illness, which I will talk more about. He was pretty much estranged from his family at the time this happened, but his family never gave up on him.
Ian Stawicki
Ian’s Behavior
In Evil Lives Here, the show and the family member who is speaking, talk about the signs they see in their loved one. Walter talked about a few different incidents that he noticed in Ian, while he was growing up.
The first one, Ian was only in elementary school. Ian had wondered off, and Walter couldn’t find him. Ian was eventually found, and had gone to the beach, and was walked home by a neighbor. Walter said Ian didn’t show any signs of emotion when he returned home. Walter only thought this was weird, because he was young, so he thought kids that age would be freaked out about being far from home.
The next incident, Ian was a teenager. Walter and Ian used to bond over camping, and the family would often go camping on the weekends. There was one camping trip, where Ian demanded that the family moved to a different camping site. Walter asked why, and Ian said there were too many other people in the area. Walter said he didn’t want to cause a scene, so they left to go to another campsite.
The final incident happened one day after Ian returned home from school. Ian became hysterical, and started hitting the walls. Walter said it wasn’t anger, it was despair. Walter had to control Ian by hugging him and bringing him down to the ground. The police were called, but Ian had lost all his energy by then, so nothing came of it. Walter thought something had happened at school and knew that Ian was getting bullied. Walter tried asking Ian what happened, but he wouldn’t tell him.
A Shocking Decision
Walter said he tried really hard to bond with Ian. Walter had owned several guns, and this is what bonded them, for awhile anyways. Walter would teach Ian about the safety precautions of guns, and they would go to the shooting range together.
Ian had started his own gun collection, and mostly collected military weapons. Walter said he didn’t see any harm in Ian’s interests, and knew that Ian wouldn’t use guns for violence.
One day, Ian made an announcement. He wanted to join the Army. He was too young to join without his parents consent, and they agreed. They thought the Army would be good for Ian. Ian was so excited to start, but the excitement didn’t last long.
A few months after Ian joined the military, he called his dad crying. Ian was at training in New York, and had gone to a party. He told his dad that someone had pulled a gun on him, and he was defending himself, but sent the person to the hospital. He said he didn’t mean to do it. No charges every came of it, but Ian was discharged from the Army. Walter said Ian was never the same person.
The Paranoia
Walter described an incident where he wanted to show Ian, and his other son Andrew, something he was working on online. Walter said it was a government website, but nothing on an FBI or Home Security website. Ian became upset, and thought the government could see them. He unplugged the computer, and told his dad to not look at the website ever again.
Ian started to carry around a loaded gun, and would walk around all night. Walter said he didn’t think Ian was violent, and he was more afraid for Ian, than of him.
Walter and his wife had separated at this point, and they both wanted to get help for Ian. It was too late.
The Murders
On May 30, 2012, a 911 call came in from a man who was hiding in the bathroom of the Cafe Racer cafe, in Seattle, Washington.
Cafe Racer in Seattle, WA
Walter said he received a call from Ian’s mom, she said Ian’s picture was on TV, and had just killed people.
The 911 caller had been able to give a description of the shooter. He said he thought the man was a white male, in his 40’s. Ian’s picture from the cafe’s surveillance cameras was now all over the news.
Surveillance images of Ian Stawicki on the day of the murders
Ian had gone into the cafe before, and the employees had recognized him. Ian had disturbed several customers before, and he started shooting when they tried to tell him to leave.
Ian shot his first victim in the back of the head. He died instantly, and he died right near one of the doors, so other people were unable to escape. Ian then shot several more people, as he was standing at the bar.
One man tried to throw stools at Ian, while several people escaped. The man is only named “Lawrence,” in this article which I have linked in the sources. He said:
“My brother died in the World Trade Center,” “I promised myself” if something like this happened, “I would never hide under a table.”
Ian ended up shooting four people, who died, and the chef of the cafe was critically injured and taken to the hospital.
The Police Chase
The police arrived shortly after, and Ian was nowhere to be found. About a half in hour later, another 911 call came in. A woman said that a man had just killed a woman, and stole her Black Mercedes.
A police chase ensued, and Ian eventually shot himself on a sidewalk. Ian was taken to the hospital, and he eventually died early the next morning. Walter and his wife were notified, and Walter said he felt relieved. Walter also said “my son might be a murderer, but he’s still my son.”
The Victims
Joseph Albanese, age 52
Andrew Keriakades, age 49
Kimberly Layfield, age 36
Donald Largen, age 57
Gloria Leonidas, age 52
Leonard Meuse was the chef that was critically injured, but he survived.
Joseph, Andrew, Kimberly, Gloria and Donald. I could not find a photo of Leonard Meuse.
Other
Cafe Racer eventually closed in August 2020, but it had been closed and reopened several times after the shootings.
Walter and his wife eventually separated again, and she blamed Walter for introducing Ian to guns.
FINAL THOUGHTS
I have so many thoughts. I think Ian should have gotten help a long time before this incident occurred. I don’t blame his parents at all, but Walter said he did do some more research after he Ian started to distance himself from them. If Ian had gotten help earlier, maybe this could have been prevented.
It’s truly heartbreaking when more is known about a shooter than about the victims. I applaud this “Lawrence” guy, he truly is a hero. He saved other lives that day, who knows how many other victims there would have been.
Mental illness is still something that people are learning about, and in this case, it was very severe. I believe he was mentally ill, but that he knew right from wrong. I truly do feel bad for Walter, and Ian’s family, and I hope they’re coping as best as they possibly can.
Sources
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2012_Seattle_cafe_shooting_spree
https://www.seattlepi.com/local/article/Seattle-shooting-two-killed-three-wounded-3595992.php
https://www.kiro7.com/news/father-gunman-says-son-had-mental-health-problems/246881494/
