Update 5/9: Police have arrested a 25-year-old Tacoma man in connection with this incident. He will be booked into the King County Jail for investigation of felony threats.
Police believe the man used a pellet gun in the incident and are in the process of recovering it as evidence.
The driver of the vehicle was also contacted as part of the investigation, but was not arrested.
Bias crimes investigators are searching for a man who pulled a gun on two people Wednesday evening on Rainier Avenue.
Around 8pm, a 23-year-old man and a 30-year-old woman were crossing Rainier Avenue South and South Genesee Street when they passed in front of a black 2004 Volvo, which was stopped at the intersection. The traffic light changed as the victims walked across the street and the driver of the Volvo–described as a tall white male with reddish hair–began shouting comments about the victims’ weight and sexual orientation.
The victims shouted back and the suspects drove off.
A short time later, the victims encountered the suspects again at Rainier Avenue and South Lucile Street, where a passenger in the vehicle threw a bottle at the victims, striking the male victim in the arm.
The victims caught up to the suspects at Rainier Avenue South and South Orcas, where the Volvo was stopped at a red light, and attempted to take a picture of the vehicle.
As they approached the car, a man–described as being in his late 20s, 6’0 with a heavy build, wearing a black hat and t-shirt and brown pants and shoes–and pointed a gun at the victims.
The victims snapped a picture of the suspect, ducked behind a car and called 911 as the suspects drove away.
SPD’s Bias Crimes detective is investigating the case and following up on leads related to the vehicle. If you recognize the man in the victims’ photo or have any other information about this case, please call the SPD Violent Crimes unit at (206) 684-5550. At this time, police have no indication this incident is related to a series of shootings Wednesday evening in the South Precinct.