UPDATE 12/17: Detectives have received conflicting information from the victim of the shooting and have been unable to confirm the location of the incident. They have, however, confirmed the incident did not involve a marijuana dispensary. Police believe the suspect and victim are familiar with one another and that a dispute preceded the shooting.
Detectives are investigating after a man walked into a hospital with a gunshot wound Thursday evening.
Doctors at Virginia Mason called police at 8:50 PM when a 23-year-old man walked into the emergency room and said he had been shot. Officers arrived and spoke with a witness who said he and the victim had stopped at a marijuana dispensary in Ballard when someone fired a round through the back window of the car they were in, striking the victim in the back. [Update: the shooting reportedly occurred in the 700 block of NW Market St]. The witness described a dark colored SUV leaving the area immediately after the shots were fired, but couldn’t provide a licence plate number. The witness said he then drove the victim to Virginia Mason for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.
Officers, after speaking with the victim, do not believe this shooting was random and are working to determine if this call is related to other shots fired calls received in the Ballard area at that time. Detectives are now canvasing the area and searching the victim’s vehicle for any evidence.
If you have any information in this case please call the homicide/assault tip line at (206)233-5000.