In the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Seattle, on the evening of September 17, 2025, a burst of gunfire shattered the night, leaving a young man's life tragically cut short. Robert Fleeks, a 26-year-old Black/African American male, was fatally shot while inside his gold Chevy Tahoe at the intersection of 10th and Pike. The King County Medical Examiner later confirmed that he died from multiple gunshot wounds.
Seattle Police Department officers responded to the scene around 9:30 PM, where
they discovered Fleeks inside his vehicle. Evidence markers dotted the ground as investigators collected three shell casings, hinting at the violence that had just unfolded. In the immediate aftermath, the Seattle Police Department had not identified any suspects and had made no arrests in connection with the shooting, leaving a void of answers for a grieving family and a shaken community. News of the deadly shooting marked the first homicide in the Capitol Hill neighborhood for the year 2025, unsettling residents.
Robert, known to some as "Rob Racks" or "Dada," was described by those who knew him as charismatic and funny. A graduate of Garfield High School, he was remembered for his kindness. In the wake of his death, his family announced homegoing services to be held in his honor, a testament to a life ended too soon.
The narrative of Robert Fleeks's life is complex. In 2018, at the age of 19, he was involved in a fatal shooting in Pioneer Square. He was subsequently convicted of second-degree murder in 2021 for this incident. However, this conviction was later overturned on appeal due to legal issues surrounding his statements to the police during the investigation. At the time of his death, the Seattle Police Department had not announced any suspects or made any arrests in his murder.
