On March 26th, just before 5:00 PM, North Precinct officers were dispatched to a call of an armed man seeking to break into a number of fourth floor apartments at a complex in the 12000 Block of 15th Avenue NE. Callers stated that the man was threatening to kill the occupants. Officers arrived at the complex and made their way up the stairway of the building in search of the suspect. The suspect was located in the fourth floor hallway. He was covered in blood, brandishing a partially assembled rifle. The suspect was very agitated. He ultimately complied with the officer’s orders to drop the weapon, but then advanced on the officers. A taser was successfully deployed, and the suspect was taken into custody. By that time additional officers had arrived on the scene.
An elderly couple living in one of the apartments on that floor was located down the hall. They had been bludgeoned by the suspect, apparently with the stock of the rifle, after having forced his way into their apartment. The couple suffered serious head injuries. Seattle Fire responded to treat the victims. They were transported to Harborview Medical Center. The suspect was also injured during the assaults, and was also transported to HMC for his injuries. Officers collected evidence and photographed the scene.
Once the suspect is released from the hospital, he will be booked into the King County Jail for Investigation of Assault. Detectives will follow up on this investigation.