Yelm Community Schools to support the family of a local ‘Bite of Seattle’ shooting victim

The Bite of Seattle, which was intended to be a grand celebration of the Pacific Northwest’s biggest food festival on July 24 through July 26, quickly turned into a tragedy as a shootout saw three attendees of the event killed.

According to investigators, there were three shooters at the event and one of them was one of the three deceased at the scene. Two of the deceased victims were Carlos Israel Sanchez Villalba, 44, of Yelm, and Ashley Whitehead, 56.

A GoFundMe fundraiser was launched for the Yelm resident, Villalba, and has nearly raised $100,000 since the shooting on Sunday, July 26. You can donate to his family at the following link: https://tinyurl.com/GoFundMeCarlos.

During a Yelm Community Schools (YCS) Board of Directors meeting on Thursday, Aug. 13, Chris Woods, superintendent, told school board members and attendees that communication with Villalba’s family has taken place to ensure his children return to school with as many resources as they need.

“One of our parents in our district was one of the people shot and killed in Seattle,” Woods said. “They have three children in our district — high school, middle school and elementary school. Ryan (Jewell) reached out to me right away and kind of went, ‘what do we do? How do we help?’ Typically, what we do is we wait a little bit of time out of respect for the family, then we personally reach out.”

Woods added that it’s almost always Shannon Powell, YCS director of student support, who makes the initial phone call and reaches out to families. The superintendent noted that Powell spoke with Sandra Faustro, Villalba’s wife, and that their conversation consisted of YCS acknowledging it’s there to support their family, that it cares about their family and that the district wants to help.

“If you know what that looks like, let us know — but also, what do you need? How can we help prepare things for the children?” Woods said. “Shannon and his team are so good at making sure that when those children show up that they are cared for, that they are taken care of, that they get the support they need and they get the counseling they need. We try our best to wrap around them and try to provide what they need.”

Woods added that it’s a very hard conversation to have with families after a tragedy, and that Powell is “so good” at communicating with families during the most difficult of circumstances.

“I just wanted to give you an update that the communication is taking place and Shannon is already working on a plan of how we’re going to receive the kids when they come and make sure that’s a soft landing for them when they come back to school,” Woods said. “I also know the community has really stepped up in fundraising for them, as well, in trying to meet their needs.”
The superintendent stated that YCS staff will be prepared to take “really good care” of his children and family.

Following the shooting on Sunday, July 26, Villalba died at the scene from a gunshot wound to his torso, according to the King County Medical Examiner’s Office.

Carlos is remembered as “a devoted husband, loving father of three, and a loyal friend who would do anything for anyone,” his loved ones state on a crowdfunding campaign page. “His kindness and generosity touched countless lives, and everyone who knew him remembers his gentle spirit and willingness to help others.”