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Capitol Hill Gun Busts: Two Felons Indicted
Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood was the scene of two separate gun arrests in late September and early October 2014, resulting in federal indictments for two men already facing lengthy criminal records. ROBEL SISAY GEBREMEDHIU, 31, and AWAD Y. AYNISHER, 30, both of Seattle, are accused of being felons in possession of firearms – a charge carrying a potential ten-year prison sentence.
The arrests were part of increased Seattle Police Department patrols responding to community concerns about rising crime and a perceived lack of safety on Capitol Hill. On September 27, 2014, officers responding to 9-1-1 calls of a man running with a gun on Broadway found GEBREMEDHIU discarding a loaded .40 caliber Glock firearm as they approached. A week later, on October 5, 2014, AYNISHER was arrested after driving recklessly into a gas station on Broadway, appearing impaired. A search of his vehicle revealed a loaded 9mm handgun on the driver’s seat and an Uzi-type Cobray M-11 9mm pistol in the trunk.
“Convicted felons armed with high powered firearms in busy city neighborhoods are a recipe for disaster,” stated Acting U.S. Attorney Annette L. Hayes. “I commend the Seattle Police Officers who worked quickly to protect the public and get these individuals off the streets safely.” Seattle Police Chief Kathleen O’Toole echoed the sentiment, noting the department’s responsiveness to community concerns and collaboration with federal partners.
This isn’t a case of isolated incidents. Both GEBREMEDHIU and AYNISHER recently completed lengthy federal prison sentences and were under federal supervision at the time of their arrests. Records show both men previously admitted to distributing drugs as part of the East African Posse (EAP) gang. Their current arrests represent violations of the terms of their supervised release, adding potential penalties to their already substantial legal woes.
According to police reports, the September 27th incident unfolded as bike officers responded to reports of a man with a gun near closing time for local clubs and bars. They spotted GEBREMEDHIU matching the suspect’s description behind a truck and witnessed him drop the loaded Glock as they approached. The October 5th arrest began with a security guard alerting officers to AYNISHER’s erratic driving. After hitting another vehicle while backing up, officers determined AYNISHER was driving under the influence, leading to the discovery of the two firearms during a vehicle search.
The charges contained in the indictment are allegations, and both men are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Assistant United States Attorneys Todd Greenberg and Andrew Friedman are prosecuting the case, which was investigated by the Seattle Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF). The arraignment for both defendants is scheduled for next week.
Key Facts
- State: Washington
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Weapons|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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