In Washington state, radio host Gee Scott is optimistic about the region’s prospects despite a decline in migration, tying its appeal to career opportunities. At the same time, a court found a man who shot a pregnant woman in Seattle legally insane and ordered him to involuntary treatment.
People will always want to come here: why host Gee Scott isn’t worried about fewer new arrivals to Washington
Despite data showing a significant drop in the flow of new residents to Washington compared with the pre-pandemic period, the host of a popular KIRO Newsradio show, Gee Scott, remains upbeat. He argues that the state’s — and especially the Seattle region’s — appeal remains strong because of career opportunities and earning potential that outweigh the high cost of living. Here’s a look at what’s behind the statistics and why some experts and public figures view the situation without alarm.
According to a report cited by The Seattle Times, about 134,000 new arrivals obtained Washington driver’s licenses last year. That’s a decline of nearly 18% compared with 2019. The main reasons given for the slowdown are high housing costs, changes in the labor market, the spread of remote work, and nationwide migration trends. On “The Gee and Ursula Show,” Gee Scott agreed that the cost of living is a key factor that makes Washington one of the most expensive states. But he urged a broader view. “In Washington you have the potential to earn more, even accounting for the high cost of living. That’s why people will always move here; there are still lots of opportunities,” the host said. He gave the example of choosing between Seattle and Austin, Texas: yes, a home in Texas may be cheaper, but the decisive question is how much you’ll be paid there. “You can get a bargain on a house, but how much will they pay you?” Scott asked rhetorically.
Interestingly, the census data reported by MyNorthwest.com show some curious shifts in migration geography. While California — still the main “supplier” of new Washington residents — has declined, some other states have shown growth. For example, moves from Texas rose from about 10,000 in 2019 to 10,800 in 2023 (the article likely contains a typo listing 2025, but context suggests the most recent available data). Small increases were also seen from Arizona and even Maine. This indicates that the overall picture of migration sources — California, Oregon, Texas, Arizona, Florida — remains stable, with only the intensity of flows changing. Thus, despite the overall slowdown, the fundamental attractiveness of the region for certain groups — perhaps those seeking not just cheaper housing but specific professional prospects — remains. Gee Scott’s perspective reflects this view: the slowdown is not a crisis, but an adjustment amid changing circumstances, such as the ability to work remotely from any state. As long as Washington remains a hub for high-tech companies and the innovation sector, the argument about “earning potential” will continue to hold, albeit for a somewhat smaller but still significant number of people.
Verdict in case of pregnant woman killed in Seattle: insanity, not prison
The U.S. justice system sometimes issues verdicts that provoke a complex range of public emotions — from understanding to outrage. Such was the court’s decision in the case of Cordell Goosby, accused of killing a pregnant restaurant owner in Seattle. Nearly three years after the tragedy, a court found him not guilty by reason of insanity, which means not freedom but lifetime placement in a psychiatric facility. This case, detailed by KING5.com, again raises questions about the limits of responsibility, fairness, and the psychiatric care system.
In June 2023, a shocking crime occurred at the corner of Fourth Avenue and Lenora Street in Seattle. Cordell Goosby approached a car containing Aina Kwon, an eight-months-pregnant owner of a popular restaurant in the Belltown neighborhood, and her husband, and opened fire. According to charging documents, there was no prior interaction between the shooter and the victims — it was an unprovoked attack. Goosby fired his entire magazine into the car window, using a pistol police said had been stolen. Aina Kwon, who suffered multiple gunshot wounds, was rushed to a hospital where doctors performed an emergency cesarean section. Despite their efforts, both she and her unborn daughter died. Her husband was also shot but survived, so Goosby was initially charged with first-degree murder and attempted murder.
A key turning point in the case was the unanimous opinion of experts for both the defense and prosecution. Both sides concluded that at the time of the crime Cordell Goosby was legally insane — unable to understand or control his actions because of severe mental illness. The King County Prosecutor’s Office explained that if the prosecution’s expert had reached a different conclusion, the case would have gone to a jury. That did not happen. Based on this finding, the court returned a verdict of “not guilty by reason of insanity.” It’s important to understand that this defense does not mean exoneration or escaping responsibility. The defendant essentially admits committing the act but, because of his mental state, cannot be held criminally responsible. Instead of prison, he faces involuntary commitment to a state psychiatric hospital, most likely Western State Hospital, potentially for life.
Goosby’s future will be determined by the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS), which oversees the hospital. If in the future the department deems it possible to grant him additional privileges or even consider release, King County Superior Court and prosecutors will be notified and given the opportunity to object. Any such petition would also be reviewed by the State Community Safety Review Panel. This creates multi-layered oversight over any possible return to the community. A separate legal issue concerns the death of the unborn child. As experts told KING 5, Goosby was not charged with the death of the baby because that depends entirely on the wording of state law. In some jurisdictions an unborn child at a certain stage of development can be considered the victim of a separate crime, but in this case the prosecution appears to have focused on the killing of the mother.
This tragic case highlights several complex issues. On one hand, it demonstrates the mechanism meant to distinguish malicious intent from the acts of a person suffering from severe illness. On the other, it leaves a bitter feeling for the victims’ family and friends, for whom “insanity” may sound like a legal loophole despite the perpetrator’s lifetime hospitalization. Society again asks questions about access to psychiatric care and the system for supervising people with serious disorders to prevent such tragedies. The story of Aina Kwon and her daughter is a reminder of life’s fragility and how difficult it can be to balance justice for victims with appropriate treatment for those whose actions are driven not by malice but by illness.
Man who shot pregnant woman in Seattle found legally insane
In a trial that shocked the public, the man accused of killing a pregnant woman and her unborn child in Seattle was found not guilty by reason of insanity. That decision, based on the unanimous conclusion of psychiatric experts, sends the defendant to a psychiatric hospital, possibly for life, leaving behind a tragedy with no winners.
In June 2023, a shocking attack occurred in the Belltown neighborhood. Investigators say Cordell Goosby approached a car at the intersection of Fourth Avenue and Lenora and opened fire for no apparent reason. The victims were business owner Aina Kwon, who was seven months pregnant, and her husband, Sun Kwon. Aina and her unborn child died from their injuries; Sun was shot in the arm but survived. Goosby was arrested soon after the shooting. Subsequent court proceedings focused less on the facts of the crime and more on the defendant’s mental state. Records showed a history of hard drug use, and questions initially arose about his competency to stand trial. That legal term means a person understands the nature of the proceedings against them and can assist their attorney in their defense. Goosby underwent competency restoration and was ultimately found able to stand trial. But the insanity defense concerns a different issue: his mental state at the time of the offense. Here, experts hired by both the defense and prosecution agreed. “Both came to the same conclusion: he was legally insane at the time he committed this offense,” said Gabrielle Charlton, head of competency and forensic psychiatry for the King County Prosecutor’s Office, in a pre-recorded statement for KIRO 7 News. As part of the insanity finding, Goosby was required to admit he committed the act. This is not an exoneration but a legal fact that carries different consequences than a guilty verdict. Charlton noted, “These cases are tragic in every respect. Obviously, they involve a horrific incident and a person suffering from severe mental illness.” The court ordered that Cordell Goosby be sent to a psychiatric hospital such as Western State, not to the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS). Although a medical facility could theoretically later decide to release him, the court system and King County prosecutors would retain the right to object. Thus, the sentence may effectively mean lifelong confinement under strict psychiatric supervision. The case raises thorny questions about the limits of responsibility, mental health, and justice when a horrific crime meets indisputable medical evidence of severe mental illness.
