Police arrested three people for crimes involving firearms over the weekend, including a man suspected in a shooting in Pioneer Square, a teen who flashed a handgun at a woman in Rainier Beach, and a felon who fled from police after pulling a pistol on a man on Capitol Hill.
Officers made their first arrest Friday evening after receiving a report of gunshots around 5:45 pm in the 8800 block of Rainier Avenue. Officers spoke with a woman, who said the suspect had approached her car and brandished a handgun as she drove south on Rainier Ave.
The woman sped away and contacted police. Officers found the suspect at a community center near the scene and turned him over to Gang Unit detectives. Police found evidence that one shot had been fired in the incident, but did not locate anyone with injuries.
On Saturday, police received a report that a man had been shot in the legs at 2nd Avenue Ext. S. and Yesler Way at about 3:15 PM.
The first officer at the scene, Officer Adam Merritt, found the victim and, with the help of a bystander, put tourniquets on the 38-year-old man’s wounds as they waited for medics to arrive.
Witnesses reported the suspect had fled the scene and climbed into the back seat of a black Jeep parked near 1st Ave and Cherry St. Officers surrounded the car and arrested the 16-year-old suspect.
Police found a gun in the car, which they also learned had been reported stolen, and booked the suspect into the King County Youth Service Center for assault, possession of a stolen vehicle and two warrants.
UPDATE: Shortly before he was scheduled to appear in court at the King County Youth Service Center Monday, the 16-year-old fled the facility into a nearby neighborhood. After a brief search, officers arrested him a block away and returned him to the facility, where he will be booked again on additional charges.
The following morning, at 1:30 AM, officers walking a foot beat in the 900 block of E. Pike St were dispatched to a report of a man with a gun at a nearby grocery store.
The suspect reportedly walked up to the victim outside the store, pointed a gun at him, and then fled to a parking lot above the store.
Officers spotted the man and chased after him, pursuing him until he ran right into a team of Gang Unit detectives, who were also on an emphasis patrol detail at Pike St. and Harvard Ave.
Police arrested the 28-year-old suspect and found a loaded handgun stashed in a planter box. The suspect is a convicted felon and is prohibited from possessing firearms, so officers booked him into the King County Jail for felon in possession of a firearm and harassment. Gang Unit detectives are investigating.
Detectives are also searching for suspects in two other weekend incidents involving firearms.
Just before 3:30 PM Saturday, police received a report of a shooting at 24th Ave. and E. Yesler Way.
As officers drove to the scene, they received an update from witnesses that a motorist in a white SUV had loaded a wounded man into his vehicle and driven away from the scene.
The wounded 20-year-old man arrived at a Central District hospital a short time later, and officers learned he had been in a dispute with a group of young men at 24th and Yesler. The man reportedly exchanged shots with one of the men in the other group, and was struck. A ride-share driver, who was not involved in the incident, had apparently spotted the injured 20-year-old and stopped to take him to a hospital. The 20-year-old was reportedly in stable condition following the shooting. Detectives are investigating.
Around 6 pm Sunday, officers received a report that someone in a black Dodge Charger had fired shots at another vehicle on Rainier Ave.
Officers found a blue Toyota Camry, which had been struck by several bullets, on the side of the road at Rainier Ave. and Weller St.
The four passengers said they had noticed a black Dodge Charger following them and had tried to lose the vehicle. They reported that someone in the Charger had shot at them, striking the rear of their car and blowing out one of their tires.
Two other vehicles and a nearby home were also struck by bullets in the incident. No one was injured in the incident.