Officers arrested the suspect in a shooting near the Chinatown-International District on Friday evening, after he barricaded himself in a newly-constructed building.
Just after 5:00 p.m., multiple 911 callers reported hearing shots near 12th Avenue South and South Jackson Street. Officers on patrol in the area also heard the shots and responded almost immediately from just a few blocks away. The first officers on scene located a victim at 10th Avenue South and South Jackson Street who had been shot in the hand. SFD responded and transported the 58-year-old victim to the hospital.
According to witnesses, the suspect fired the first shot at 12th Avenue South and South Jackson Street after an altercation with several subjects. The suspect then ran west on South Jackson Street, followed by one of the men from the altercation. After going up the stairs of the Yesler Hill Climb, he turned and fired down the stairs at the man following him, striking him in his hand. The suspect then ran into a nearby construction site.
Police surrounded the building and instructed the suspect to surrender, but he refused to respond. Additional resources were called in from SPD’s Hostage Negotiation Team, SWAT and King County Sheriff’s Office, including their Guardian One helicopter. Eventually, the suspect peacefully surrendered and was safely taken into custody.
Police later discovered one of the suspect’s shots at 12th Avenue South and South Jackson Street had struck a passing vehicle. The driver didn’t realize her car had been hit and she drove out of the area, eventually calling 911 to report the damage about two hours later.
The 29-year-old suspect was booked into King County Jail for first degree assault and unlawful possession of a firearm.
This remains an active investigation and detectives ask anyone with information to call the Violent Crimes Tip Line 206-233-5000.