String of attacks has local community coming together | Community Spirit

It's been a week since a popular hair stylist died from a brutal beating in the Rainer Valley area.

As we first reported, police are investigating at least nine similar robberies, many involving the theft of electronics like phones. On Sunday, almost 100 people met to talk about how to stop this string of attacks.

For all the people who showed up to a South Seattle church Sunday evening, much of the side talk focused on three people who weren't there.
     
Seattle Police are still looking for three teens they say could hold clues in the murder of Danny Vega. The 58-year-old man was robbed and beaten, his cell phone taken, back in November.
     
Since then community members have held several vigils and meetings including the one on Sunday.
     
Connie Burk is one of the organizers of Sunday's community meeting, a potluck designed to bring the community together for a short meal and longer lasting peace.
     
While police look for the three persons of interest in the Vega case, she hopes to find an understanding within the community.
     
"Our emphasis is on, really, what each of us can do as community members to reach out to our neighbors, reach out to one another," said Burk.
 
Nathan Shara helped plan Sunday's meeting, too.
     
"A good friend of mine was assaulted about five weeks ago and since then we've all been, sort of, more concerned," said Shara.
     
He told us he feels safe here, but only because he and his friends have set-up systems to protect each other:
     
"We have little buddy system set-up where if one of us is going to be out late or just going out to walk the dogs, now it's 'hey I made it home' and we've had a chance to talk through what we would do if someone didn't follow-up," he said.

Shara shared some of those ideas on Sunday and that was the point - working together to help stop the violence, breaking bread to break the chain of attacks, and hopefully solve an unsolved murder.
 
Police are still taking tips regarding Vega's attack. Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers. Tips can remain anonymous.