Detectives are investigating the death of a woman inside Cal Anderson Park as a domestic violence homicide as negotiators and SWAT officers were attempting to get a person of interest into custody after he barricaded himself inside a small building in the park. Hours later the male was located deceased inside the building.
At approximately 8:00 PM Wednesday officers responded to the north east portion of the park to assist the Seattle Fire Department as they were performing CPR on an unresponsive female. Despite their efforts, the woman was declared deceased. Detectives were called to the scene and determined that it was a homicide.
At approximately the same time, officers received reports of a man who had broken into the Pump House on the west side of the park. After speaking with witnesses, officers determined that the man and the woman had a domestic relationship and had been staying in a makeshift shelter in the park earlier in the night.
Officers attempted to coax the man out but he barricaded himself inside the building. Negotiators attempted to establish a dialogue with him and eventually SWAT was called out to the scene.
Detectives responded to the crime scene to begin their investigation. The Medical Examiner also responded and will determine the cause and manner of death.
SWAT officers used a variety of tools and techniques to get the man to surrender peacefully. He refused to come out of the building.
At approximately 12:30 AM, SWAT entered the building and located the man unresponsive inside at the bottom of a 10 foot tank, which contained approximately 50 gallons of 12 percent bleach solution. The man was declared deceased at the scene. Seattle Fire responded back to the scene with a HAZMAT crew to assess the scene and assist the Medical Examiner with the body recovery. The recovery was processed and documented by Crime Scene Investigators and Force Investigation Team detectives. The Medical Examiner will determine the cause and manner of death.
This remains an active and on-going investigation. Anyone with information on this incident is asked to contact the Seattle Police Department Violent Crimes tip line at (206) 233-5000.