Police search home believed to be tied to SPU shooting suspect
Jun 6, 2014, 8:32 AM | Updated: 8:57 am
Police searched a home Thursday believed to be tied to the suspect in the deadly shootings at Seattle Pacific University.
A lone gunman armed with a shotgun and knife opened fire Thursday in a building at the small university, fatally wounding one person before a student subdued him with pepper spray as he tried to reload.
The suspect, a 26-year-old man identified as Aaron R. Ybarra, was booked into the King County Jail late Thursday. Assistant Police Chief Paul McDonagh said Ybarra was not a student at the school.
Police initially reported that they were searching for a second suspect. But later indicated they believed there was only one person involved.
“It appears the suspect acted alone,” McDonagh said. Initially, “there was a report of another person with a weapon, but (investigators) have not confirmed that.”
The gunman’s motive and intended target or targets are not known at this time. Detectives are “working as quickly as we can to figure it out,” McDonagh said.
Two of the victims of Thursday’s shooting remain at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. A 19-year-old woman remains in critical condition Friday in the intensive care unit. She underwent a five-hour surgery. Also, a 24-year-old man is in satisfactory condition.
A 22-year-old man who had minor injuries from fighting with the suspect was treated Thursday and released.
Classes are canceled at SPU Friday and counselors are on hand to meet with students.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
