A gun wielding suspect ambushed two pedestrians in a South Seattle neighborhood last night. South Precinct officers responded to a report of shots fired in the area of 42 Avenue S. and S. Thistle Street just after 10 p.m. Officers found an injured 23 year old man suffering from a gunshot wound to his arm. His friend, a 25 year old man, was not hit by gunfire.
The victims told police that they were walking down S. Thistle when the were caught in a hail of gunfire. They did not say if they knew the suspect, if they were targeted or why this occurred. Witnesses told officers they saw a lone black male, about 19 years old, shooting towards Martin Luther King Jr. Way S. from the intersection of 43rd and S. Thistle. Witnesses stated they saw about five people running back toward MLK and that the suspect fled north on 43rd Avenue S.
Officers located several shell casings at the corner of 43rd andThistle. Officers also recovered a 9mm handgun around the corner in the 8300 block of 43rd Avenue S. Officers believe that the suspect dropped it as he ran away.
The handgun will be checked for forensic evidence. Detectives continue to investigate.