Sketch released of suspected gunman in Seattle art teacher’s death

Seattle police on Monday released a sketch of a man suspected of killing a beloved art teacher in Belltown last month.

Brent McDonald was described by friends as a gentle man with quiet strength. He taught art and woodworking to low-income and immigrant middle-school children.

McDonald, 49, was found lying on a sidewalk in the 2100 block of Third Avenue with a gunshot wound on Dec. 13.

Police, in a news release, said that surveillance cameras in the 2100 block of Third Avenue captured images of two people with McDonald around 3 a.m. on Dec. 13. Soon after the video was captured police received reports of gunfire in the neighborhood.

Police did not say whether the video captured images of McDonald being shot.

In addition to footage of the man and woman, both believed to be their 30s or 40s, with McDonald, the video footage shows a light-colored 1998-2003 Mercedes-Benz E320 station wagon that might be associated with the pair, police said.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Seattle Police Department tip line at 206-233-5000.

McDonald’s slaying came just hours before he was scheduled to teach a woodworking course at Coyote Central, at 23rd Avenue and East Cherry Street in the Central District.

Since about 2004, he had worked part time for the nonprofit, where he taught some 700 students during weekend and summertime courses in furniture design and building, woodworking and various public art-installation projects.

A GoFundMe page has been set up to help McDonald’s family.