A 77-year-old Seattle man suffered a broken arm, shattered knee, and severe lacerations after two men attacked him near a bus stop—yet the mayor wants to shut down the surveillance cameras that captured the entire assault.

Brutal Attack Leaves Elderly Man Hospitalized

The victim was simply walking home from his bus stop when Ahmed Abdullah Osman and a second suspect jumped him in an unprovoked assault. The attack left the elderly man with injuries severe enough to require more than two weeks of hospitalization at Harborview Medical Center. A gash above his right eye required stitches, while doctors treated his broken arm and knee. Security cameras in the area recorded the entire incident, providing law enforcement with clear footage of the attack.

Andy Ngo

@MrAndyNgo

Seattle — Surveillance recorded 2 black males ambushing a 77-year-old. Suspect Ahmed Abdullahi Osman was arrested & quickly released. His whereabouts are unknown. The other man was never arrested.

Migrant groups have been urging mayor to ban CCTV cameras.

1:15 PM · May 5, 2026

Mayor Opposes Cameras That Solved Crime

Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson has advocated for shutting down the very surveillance system that captured this violent crime. Her stated reason: the cameras supposedly put refugees at risk. Wilson’s position raises questions about public safety priorities when the technology that helped identify violent offenders faces elimination. Osman was charged with second-degree assault based largely on the camera footage the mayor wants removed. The second suspect remains unidentified, though investigators continue their search.

Suspect Released and Missing

The case took another troubling turn when Osman was released from jail the same night police arrested him. Authorities let him go before his bail hearing even took place. Osman has since disappeared, and law enforcement cannot locate him. The victim remains hospitalized while his alleged attacker walks free somewhere in Seattle. This sequence of events highlights ongoing tensions between criminal justice reform policies and public safety concerns in major American cities.

Public Safety Questions Mount

The incident underscores broader debates about surveillance technology, criminal justice procedures, and victim protection. The elderly victim spent weeks recovering from injuries inflicted in a random attack, while the man charged in the assault remains at large. Meanwhile, city leadership prioritizes removing the cameras that documented the crime. Seattle residents now face questions about whether public safety tools will remain available to protect vulnerable citizens and help solve violent crimes in their neighborhoods.