Gunman shoots at WSDOT workers near Renton for unknown reasons
Feb 22, 2024, 3:03 PM | Updated: 7:28 pm
WSDOT crews were working near Renton when a person stepped out of a vehicle and fired a gun at the crew before driving away Tuesday night. (Image courtesy of Washington Department of Transportation/@wsdot on X)
(Image courtesy of Washington Department of Transportation/@wsdot on X)
Bullets were fired at a Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) road crew near Renton Tuesday night.
In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, published Thursday afternoon, the agency stated crew members were working near Renton when “a person stepped out of a vehicle and fired a gun at the crew before driving away.”
The X post states the incident occurred Monday night. But the Renton Police Department (RPD) confirmed to KIRO Newsradio Thursday afternoon it occurred Tuesday night.
The crew told RPD they were setting up for a job, when they saw a black sedan parked on the other side of the river.
“Two people got out of the car, walked down to the river’s edge. They walked down to the river’s edge. They saw three flashes and heard three shots,” RPD spokesperson Meeghan Black said to KIRO Newsradio.
No one was injured in the shooting. Investigators say they found three spent shell casings and one live round.
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No one was injured, but the shooter or shooters remain at large.
One big question – were they firing at the works, or at something else
“We don’t know, at this point in time, if those shots were fired at the crew, in the air, across the river,” Black said. “We simply don’t know.”
RPD is asking for help. If anyone saw a black sedan or know anything about this shooting or the shooters, they are encouraged to call RPD or 911 as soon as possible.
The state agency’s X post concluded with a message to those out there on the road who may encounter workers taking care of business on a project.
“And please be extra nice to road workers. They deal with more than you can imagine,” the post reads.
~10pm Monday, our crews were working near Renton when a person stepped out of a vehicle and fired a gun at the crew before driving away.
If you saw anything suspicious, please contact @RentonpdWA. And please be extra nice to road workers. They deal with more than you can imagine. pic.twitter.com/je1aKJZuHB— Washington State DOT (@wsdot) February 22, 2024
Steve Coogan is the lead editor of My Northwest. You can read more of his stories here. Follow Steve on X, formerly known as Twitter, here and email him here.
You can read more of James Lynch’s stories here. Follow James on X, formerly known as Twitter, or email him here.
