Man killed in shootout with Seattle police following carjacking, chase
Dec 6, 2015, 2:10 PM | Updated: 10:42 pm
Seattle police have detained an armed suspect in after a reported carjacking and police chase in Montlake. (Richard Oxley)
(Richard Oxley)
One man was killed in a shootout with police Sunday after he allegedly stole two vehicles at gunpoint in separate incidents in Belltown and Montlake and fired at officers while leading them on a chase through northeast Seattle.
As many as 11 officers are believed to have exchanged gunfire with the suspect at two separate locations during the pursuit, according to the SPD. All officers involved in the shooting will be placed on paid administrative leave per department policy.
The incident began around 12:30 p.m. when the suspect entered a downtown coffee shop armed with a handgun, leading employees to call police, according to the Seattle Police Department.
The SPD says the man then fled to a tattoo parlor at 2nd Avenue and Lenora Street leading to another 911 call. After leaving the shop, the suspect reportedly stole a red Volkswagen at gunpoint and drove to the Montlake area. There, the armed suspect reportedly stole a second vehicle.
Officers began pursuing the suspect in Montlake, where they came under fire from the fleeing suspect, according to the SPD.
The man then reportedly drove onto westbound 520 and northbound onto I-5, before exiting in the Ravenna neighborhood.
The SPD says the suspect fired at officers at Northeast 68th Street and 35th Avenue NE. Officers reportedly returned fire, fatally wounding the man. The SPD said the man is believed to be a white male in his 30s.
The Seattle Police Department’s Force Investigation Team is reviewing the incident.
Several officers and uninvolved motorists were treated for non-life-threatening injuries sustained in collisions during the incident.
At this time, police are not looking for any additional suspects in the case.
Brian Foster, who said he witnessed the scene near 35th Avenue and 68th street, said he saw police activity ahead of him while driving his car. He said he heard between five and 10 gunshots, which started as “pop pop” and a few more shots shortly thereafter.
Mark Saltvig told KIRO Radio he was in a library and heard the gun battle.
“All of the sudden one of the librarians yells something like, ‘Get down, there’s an incident outside,’ and literally everybody is running toward the back of the library, and a couple minutes later you heard some serious heavy caliber gunfire going on outside,” Saltvig said.
Police said the incident remains under investigation.
