The widow's name is Kimberley Dawn Pettigrew Peterson. I don't like the way Seattle Times shortened it, it's neither "first name + last name" nor "last name only".

I'm a bit confused... at first there was all this talk about this kid being homeless -- where did that come from? Mr. Mudede even included a precious little anecdote quoting a black Ballard High student saying how hard a home was to get....
Why was this drivel reported in the first place?

She clarified that she forgives him and also believes he should spend the rest of his life in prison.

Sorry, here's the link.

Peterson’s widow, Kimberly Dawn Pettigrew Peterson, expressed forgiveness for the teen and compassion for his family in a phone interview Monday.

But she was angry Wednesday after reading the teen’s alleged comment’s on the quality of her husband’s phone.

“I want him to spend the rest of his life in prison,” she said. “Just because I forgive him does not mean he should not have to face the consequences for his actions.”

http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2…

this is just sad and tragic all the way around. gun culture wins again. as a person who has lost a sibling to murder (handgun) i feel loss and sadness for all parties involved. just stupid kid with easy access to a pistol. condolences to the petigrew family. no time for trolls.

@7, your position is mine. plain and simple.

The particulars make this homicide tragically pointless. after failing to rob Petersen of his phone, White was walking away. Petersen called 911, White heard it, came back, and shot him.

2nd degree, 25 to life, out in 15. He'll be in his early 30s.

@7: Yes, this is no time for trolls but there's always time for the shift key. I know the ambiance of e.e. cummings is seductive, but such typing is hard to read.

Related? http://oglaf.com/gorek/

@1: Well, they interviewed her; I'm sure she told them that's what she goes by. And using just the last name can be confusing when there is more than one person in the story with the same last name.

Indeed, as @ 5 & 6 said, Ms. Pettigrew Peterson was quite angry according to this morning's paper. I'm not surprised especially considering what Mr. White apparently uttered regarding the type of cell phone he expected and his insistance on killing Mr. Peterson because Mr. White was seen by him.

This was a mean spirited crime plain and simple. I don't believe it was "gun culture". My understanding is, Mr. White didn't obtain the gun legally. That may end up adding years to his sentence should he be convicted.

My condolences to the Pettigrew family.

At least his mother turned the shitbird in. That always puts a silver lining on these kinds of stories to me. When a family member of a criminal *doesn't* cover for them.

He's a very bad guy and locking up bad guys has seemed to reduce the murder rates on the outside, so it should continue.

Reducing the availability of guns also seems to lower murder rates so it should start, if it can. Personal responsibility is cool, but though I hold myself to a high standard in not shooting people I don't expect that would save me from being shot

@16 Agree. It must be hearbreaking for Mr. White's mother.

@3

Your numbers only look at state prisons.

This narrow view misses all the people confined in jails, detention centers, federal prisons, and under the supervision of community corrections.

For obvious reasons the drug offenders are far more likely to be locked up in these other locations. And when you look more broadly at the number of persons behind bars you will see that the percentage confined for non-violent crimes is much higher.

That being said- Washington has done a great job reducing the number of drug offenders it puts behind bars over the past 15-20 years through changing filing standards and laws and through implementing collaborative courts and diversion. Washington has a much lower percentage of drug offenders behind bars than many other states.

Call me a pinko-commy but there are still too many drug offenders behind bars.