Man waving gun at group in Capitol Hill accidentally shoots himself in chest

A 26-year-old man accidentally shot himself in the chest after a confrontation on Thursday in Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood, the Seattle Police Department (SPD) announced.

SPD responded to a reported disturbance at 1:54 a.m. in the 1000 block of E. Pike Street. Officers found a man with a gunshot wound to his chest.

Man shoots himself on Capitol Hill

Witnesses told SPD the suspect was involved in an altercation with a group of people and began waving a firearm, threatening the others.

“[The group] did not know him. There was no type of relationship. It was an altercation on the street, and it turned into this gun violence,” SPD Detective Brian Pritchard told KIRO Newsradio.

The suspect shot himself in the chest during the confrontation with the group.

“The male actually confronted them, and right now we are not seeking any charges against any of them,” Pritchard said.

SPD provided medical aid to the suspect until the Seattle Fire Department (SFD) medics arrived and took over operations. SFD transported the suspect to Harborview Medical Center in serious condition.

“He’s in Harborview Medical Center in serious condition, and he is actually under arrest,” Pritchard said. “When he leaves and is discharged from there, he’ll be taken to the King County Jail.”

One person in the group received an arm injury unrelated to the gunfire and was taken to the Harborview Medical Center for treatment. Another individual within the group was transported to the SPD headquarters to assist with the investigation.

Once the suspect is released from the hospital, he will be booked into the King County Jail for felony harassment.

Detectives with the Gun Violence Reduction Unit are currently investigating the incident.

Anyone with additional information is urged to call the Seattle Police Department Violent Crimes Tip Line at (206) 233-5000.

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