Seattle police increase patrols in South Seattle after couple is shot

Increased police patrols are working the south end of Seattle after they say a husband and wife — innocent bystanders — were shot Thursday morning.

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The couple was driving on Martin Luther Jr Way South at Dearborn when they saw two cars stopped, one facing the wrong direction. As the husband tried to drive between the two cars, people inside both vehicles opened fire, hitting him and his wife.

The husband, in his 70s, is at Harborview with life-threatening injuries. The wife, in her 60s, had less severe injuries and has been treated and released.

Police have not released any descriptions of the suspects.

Seattle Police Chief Kathleen O’Toole issued the following statement:

In the last 24 hours, there have been five shooting incidents, leaving one person dead and four others injured. We offer our deepest sympathy to the family of the young woman who died yesterday. Our hearts go out to these victims and their loved ones.

We are outraged by the gun violence, and neither our department nor our community will tolerate it. We have been working consistently with our federal, state, and county partners, and convened a meeting today to redouble our efforts.

Our department is working around the clock to investigate these incidents. We stand together with our community to bring those who have brought violence onto our streets to justice.

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