Shots fired inside Cheesecake Factory near Southcenter Mall

Police responded to a reported shooting at a Cheesecake Factory restaurant near Southcenter Mall in Tukwila on Tuesday evening.

At about 8:45 p.m., officers were dispatched to the 200 block of Strander Boulevard after receiving reports that a dispute between customers had escalated into gunfire.

A Cheesecake Factory employee told KIRO 7 that the shooting happened inside the restaurant. Another employee called it a traumatic event that was too painful to talk about on camera.

KIRO 7 reporter Gwen Baumgardner spoke with a man who said he was across the street walking with a friend when he heard seven gunshots.

“We were just walking and heard gunshots out of nowhere, then we see people running, so we were all running,” he said.

Tukwila police said they believe those involved in the incident fled the scene after the shots were fired.

No arrests have been made.

KIRO 7 is working to confirm if anyone was injured in the shooting. An employee told KIRO 7 that she believed all of the restaurant employees were safe.

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