Hate crime speculation put to rest

Leslie Holleran Jul 1, 2025

Jan 12, 2018

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                <h1>Hate crime speculation put to rest</h1>
                <h2><p>The King County Medical Examiner’s office has declared that Hamza Warsame’s death was accidental, the Seattle Times reports. The 16-year-old Rainier Beach High School student had fallen from the balcony of a Capitol Hill apartment building in early December.

Given his background as a Muslim and Somali-American and</p></h2>
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               <p>By <a href="/author/leslie-holleran-crosscut-com/">Leslie Holleran</a></p> 
              <p><time datetime="2025-02-04T05:00:00-08:00">Jan 12, 2018</time></p>
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            <p>The King County Medical Examiner’s office has declared that Hamza Warsame’s death was accidental, the Seattle Times <a href="http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/death-of-teen-in-fall-from-capitol-hill-building-ruled-an-accident/?ref=dev.cascadepbs.org">reports</a>. The 16-year-old Rainier Beach High School student had fallen from the balcony of a Capitol Hill apartment building in early December.</p><p>Given his background as a Muslim and Somali-American and the timing of his fall (just days after the terror murders in San Bernardino), there had been public speculation of foul play. Late last month, his family requested that the rumors stop.</p><p>The Medical Examiner’s office said that his fall was unintentional.</p>
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The King County Medical Examiner’s office has declared that Hamza Warsame’s death was accidental, the Seattle Times reports. The 16-year-old Rainier Beach High School student had fallen from the balcony of a Capitol Hill apartment building in early December.

Given his background as a Muslim and Somali-American and the timing of his fall (just days after the terror murders in San Bernardino), there had been public speculation of foul play. Late last month, his family requested that the rumors stop.

The Medical Examiner’s office said that his fall was unintentional.

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By Leslie Holleran

Leslie Holleran regularly writes about arts and culture for print and online publications. Her work has appeared in national dance publications and in Seattle newspapers and magazines.