SEATTLE - A 19-year-old man was killed and a second man is in critical condition with life-threatening injuries after a predawn shooting Saturday in the Capitol Hill Occupied Protest zone - also known as CHOP. KOMO News Video - Nick Popham. Police say the shootings happened at about 2:30 a. m...
ktvl.com
1 dead, 1 critical after overnight shooting in Seattle's CHOP zone
SEATTLE - A 19-year-old man was killed and a second man is in critical condition with life-threatening injuries after a predawn shooting Saturday in the Capitol Hill Occupied Protest zone - also known as CHOP. video on sitePolice say the shooting happened at about 2:30 a.m. at 10th Avenue and East Pine Street. The two victims were taken to Harborview Medical Center, where the 19-year-old was pronounced dead. The second victim, whose age is unknown, is being treated in the intensive care unit with life-threatening injuries.https://twitter.com/i/status/1274346870383341568
The circumstances leading up to the shooting are under investigation. The suspect or suspects fled and are still at large. There is no description at this time.
Investigators were reviewing surveillance cams and body-camera video for clues and authorities planned to disclose more information about the shooting later, police said.
East Precinct officers initially responded to Cal Anderson Park after receiving reports of a shooting, but were met by a violent crowd that prevented officers safe access to the victims, police said. Officers were later informed that the victims, both males, had been transported to Harborview Medical Center by CHOP medics.
The CHOP has been the focus of protests for over two weeks. It got its name after police removed barricades that separated protesters from the now-closed East Precinct at 12th Avenue and Pine Street and then retreated from the area.
During the day time it's been rather peaceful at CHOP. But occasionally at night KOMO News has seen things escalate and this appears to be one of those nights.
In the wake of the shooting, Gov. Jay Inslee said he has not yet had a chance to speak with Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan or other city leaders about the overnight violence. But he said Seattle's elected city officials need to find a way to provide police and fire services in the CHOP zone without violating citizens' free speech rights.
Homicide detectives are conducting a thorough investigation into the shooting, despite the challenges presented by the circumstances.
Anyone with information about this shooting, or who may have video, is asked to contact the Seattle Police Department’s Violent Crime tip line at (206) 233-5000.
This remains an active and on-going homicide investigation.
Police have largely retreated from the zone after clashes with protesters ended with people throwing things at police and police tear gassing people and using other crowd control munitions. City officials have said they are still communicating with protest leaders, who had pledged to keep the peace in the zone.
The situation has drawn the continued ire of President Donald Trump. His tweets about possibly sending in the military have been met with condemnation from Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan and Gov. Jay Inslee, both Democrats.