Police: Georgetown gas station clerk shot man in self-defense

The Seattle Police Department (SPD) is investigating a Georgetown shooting that occurred at a gas station after a fight broke out.

According to police, the shooting occurred at 6 p.m. Monday night at the Chevron gas station located on East Marginal Way.

‘A difficult scene’: 5 killed, including 3 juveniles, in mass shooting at Fall City home

SPD said the Chevron clerk was on a break, sitting in his car, when he saw a man and woman doing drugs in the parking lot and told them to leave. That’s when an argument escalated, and police said the 35-year-old man threw a rock at the clerk’s window, shattering it

“Ultimately his window was severely damaged and he didn’t know what occurred,” Detective Eric Munoz told KIRO Newsradio. “The suspect threw a rock and told the clerk, ‘I will shoot you, too.'”

Munoz said the man approached the clerk’s car and the clerk grabbed his own gun.

“At this point in time, the clerk believed the subject made furtive motion toward his waistband and he lunged at the employee,” Munoz said.

Shortly after, the 69-year-old clerk shot once and hit the man in the abdomen, he said. The clerk called 911 and reported the shooting, police said, and he’s cooperating with the investigation.

Police said they found the man wounded and collapsed in a local business’s drive-through.

He was taken to Harborview Medical Center where he underwent surgery Monday night, according to SPD.

More PNW crime: Man charged after a 1-year-old child was killed in SR 18 collision

Police did not say whether he was armed. When asked whether detectives could corroborate the clerk’s statements, Munoz told KIRO Newsradio preliminary evidence indicates it “matches up.”

The investigation is ongoing.

Sam Campbell is a reporter, editor and anchor at KIRO Newsradio. You can read more of Sam’s stories here. Follow Sam on X, or email him here.

Frank Sumrall is a content editor at MyNorthwest. You can read his stories here and you can email him here.