Two shootings in less than a week in neighboring apartment complexes has prompted Mayor Jim Ferrell to start directing “support efforts to the affected apartment communities.” The first shooting took place at the Silver Shadow Apartments on May 7, and left 27-year-old Demario Washington dead. The second deadly shooting took place this week early Tuesday morning at the Mariposa apartment complex. That shooting claimed the life of a single victim, described as a 22-year-old Hispanic male.

“These incidents of violence do not represent who we are as a city,” Ferrell is quoted as saying in a press release. “We are committed to identifying those responsible for these crimes of violence in our community and restoring the quality of life to the residents of these apartments and adjacent neighborhoods.”

According to the city, Ferrell and Federal Way Police Department (FWPD) Chief Andy Hwang met with Mariposa Apartment management representatives on Tuesday, to “offer support and communicate the City’s commitment to addressing the unacceptable violence in the complex.” Ferrell has also directed city staff to organize community meetings at both complexes, while FWPD staff “are working with apartment management to identify problem apartment units and enforce lease agreements to remove individuals responsible for problem behavior.”

FWPD is also in communication with neighboring jurisdictions and “sharing intelligence regarding those responsible for criminal behavior.”

Anyone with information on either of the incidents is urged to call the Tip Line at (253) 835 6799 or visit www.safecityfw.com and click on the “Submit an Anonymous Tip” button available at that website.