A late-night incident in Seattle's Chinatown-International District has left a man seriously injured following an assault with a firework, according to Seattle Police. Officers responded to a call last night, shortly before midnight, where they found a 23-year-old victim with significant injuries to his face in a parking lot near 9th Avenue South and South Jackson Street. Although initial reports suggested a possible shooting, the man had not been shot, the Seattle Police Department reported.
The Seattle Fire Department was on scene to provide emergency treatment before transporting the injured man to Harborview Medical Center. Witnesses at the scene believe that the injury was caused by someone from a passing vehicle throwing a large firework, which struck the man. However, no evidence of a shooting was found at the scene, indicating that the loud bang heard by witnesses was the firework detonation.
In pursuit of more information, the Seattle Police Department’s Real Time Crime Center reviewed nearby surveillance footage and identified a dark vehicle speeding away shortly after the incident. This evidence could prove crucial to the investigation, led by detectives from the Homicide and Assault Unit. Although the attack appears random, the investigation is still in its early stages, and authorities are urging any witnesses or individuals with information to come forward.
