Man sought in Capitol Hill slaying

Seattle police are searching for a man who they say fatally stabbed a 31-year-old woman outside her Capitol Hill condominium building Monday night.

The victim was identified by co-workers as Shannon Harps, who worked as an organizer for the Northwest region of the Sierra Club.

"She was a really rare person who cared both about the environment and engaging with people," said Dan Ritzman, the Sierra Club's Northwest director. "She was excited and energized about working together to make the world a better place."

Ritzman said Harps moved to her job in Seattle about three years ago, after starting work for the Sierra Club in her native Ohio. Her job involved long hours trying to bring together activists and volunteers from across the state in a campaign to reduce greenhouse gases. She also found time for biking, running and hiking, Ritzman added.

"She liked to see some of the wild places she was working hard to protect," Ritzman said.

Last month, during the Sierra Club's annual Northwest retreat in Leavenworth, Chelan County, Harps organized a holiday gift exchange. Her ability to be the conduit between different types of people shone through, Ritzman said.

Staff members at the Sierra Club are shocked about Harps' death, Ritzman added.

"It feels like a completely random act, but I don't know all the details," Ritzman said. "Being the person she is, and the spirit she had, I can't imagine any person out there would hold any ill will toward her."

Ritzman and another co-worker said Harps had been planning and looking forward to an upcoming trip to South America.

Harps died after being stabbed several times. She was walking home, after stopping at a grocery store, when the man attacked, police spokesman Mark Jamieson said.

"Witnesses heard her scream. There were more screams, and that's what prompted the 911 calls," Jamieson said. "Our officer arrived within a minute of being dispatched."

Police have increased patrols in the neighborhood because they haven't yet determined whether the attack was random.

Harps was entering her building when the man, who witnesses describe as being a white male in his 40s, stabbed her. The suspect is described as being about 6 feet tall with a 3- or 4-inch beard. He was wearing baggy pants, a blue parka and a dark-colored ski hat.

Jamieson said witnesses described the suspect as "scruffy" but "not too dirty."

Residents in the building at 15th Avenue East and East Howell Street heard screaming shortly after 7 p.m. and called police, Jamieson said. Officers found the victim collapsed on the Howell Street sidewalk, Jamieson said. She later was pronounced dead at Harborview Medical Center.

Tuesday afternoon, a memorial was set up outside the condominium building.

One woman who visited the memorial said Harps was a close friend, as well as a co-worker.

Lori Stutz said Harps had lived in the building for about two years.

Stutz said she and Harps were supposed to get together Monday night to ring in the new year but said she couldn't get ahold of Harps. Stutz said no one was home at Harps' condo, her car was parked at the building and neighbors told Stutz they saw authorities trying to resuscitate Harps on Monday night.

"We're real good friends; we just bought tickets to go to Chile," Stutz said. "We had plans last night, and I couldn't get ahold of her."

Police will continue searching for additional witnesses, Jamieson said. Detectives expect to release a sketch of the suspect within the next two days.

Jennifer Sullivan: 206-464-8294 or jensullivan@seattletimes.com