A homeowner reported that he fired a gun at someone breaking into his house. Ten minutes later, a 35-year-old man showed up at the hospital with a gunshot wound.
On Sunday, July 15th, at approximately 4:15 am, a Ballard resident was at home sleeping in the 6700 block of 25th Avenue NW when he heard what sounded like someone breaking into this house. The resident armed himself with a handgun and discovered the burglar had already broken into an enclosed mudroom and was attempting to break into the main house. The homeowner fired a shot through the door window and into the mudroom. The homeowner then called 911 and officers responded.
A neighbor reported seeing a dark-colored station wagon drive away from the victim’s house. Ten minutes later, a man with a gunshot wound to the abdomen was dropped off at Swedish Hospital in Ballard. Officers were dispatched to the hospital. The man was later transferred to Harborview Medical Center for further treatment.
Officers located a dark-colored station wagon several blocks away with a man and woman standing nearby. Officers observed fresh blood on the inside and outside of the vehicle. The car also appeared to have stolen property inside. The two individuals were detained and interviewed. The male had an outstanding warrant and was arrested. The female was the sister of the man who was shot and was interviewed and released from the scene.
Officers impounded the vehicle pending a search warrant. This remains an active and on-going investigation and North Precinct burglary detectives will handle the follow-up investigation.