In the late afternoon of a Tuesday in North Seattle, the life of 41-year-old Matthew Robert Budney, a male, came to a sudden and violent end. On August 13, 2024, in what is typically a quiet neighborhood, Budney was found with a fatal gunshot wound to his chest. The incident occurred just before 3 p.m. behind a 7-Eleven on Sand Point Way Northeast.
When police and emergency responders arrived at the scene, their efforts to save him were unsuccessful, and he was pronounced dead.
According to police reports, Budney had been seen conversing with at least two individuals shortly before the sound of gunfire shattered the afternoon calm. Following the shooting, two suspects were witnessed fleeing the area in a vehicle. The nature of the conversation and whether Budney had any prior acquaintance with the suspects remains unclear as the investigation continues. The event sent ripples of shock through the View Ridge community, unaccustomed to such violence. A black Jeep, believed to have belonged to Budney, was part of the ongoing investigation at the scene.
The Seattle Police Department's homicide detectives launched an intensive investigation. Their efforts led to a significant development four days later. On August 17, 2024, authorities arrested a 36-year-old man in connection with the fatal shooting. The suspect was subsequently identified as Ryan Michael Danford. He was booked into the King County Jail on charges of second-degree murder and first-degree unlawful possession of a firearm. Danford made his initial court appearance on September 4, 2024, to face these serious allegations. Police have not yet released descriptions of any other potential suspects involved in the incident.
Matthew Robert Budney was remembered as a loving father and son. His unexpected death left his family, including his mother and siblings, and his community to mourn a life cut short by gun violence. A memorial service was held for him in Fountain Inn, South Carolina, where family and friends gathered to remember him.
