A Friday morning outside Kemp's Cannabis in Seattle's SoDo neighborhood turned violent when a store employee was hit and run over by a car while trying to document a suspected theft. Co-owner Tran Du said the whole encounter was captured on the shop's security cameras and that the worker was rushed to Harborview Medical Center, where they were admitted to the intensive care unit with a broken ankle and a concussion. The employee is awaiting surgery as the business works to pull together video and leads.
Security footage shows theft followed by car striking employee
According to Du, surveillance footage shows a woman grabbing a product without paying and sprinting to a waiting vehicle outside. An employee follows her out, attempting to take photos of the woman and the license plate. The driver then accelerates, hits the worker, carries them briefly on the hood, and runs over the employee after they fall to the ground before fleeing the area. “He didn't try to confront her, but he just wanted to take a picture of her,” Du told reporters, as reported by KOMO News.
The store and the neighborhood
Kemp's Cannabis operates its SoDo shop at 2764 1st Ave S, according to the Washington Department of Health. The surrounding industrial corridor has seen a run of vehicle-assisted break-ins and smash-and-grab hits on cannabis stores in recent years, a pattern documented in local coverage by KIRO 7 and noted by police.
Police investigation and owner's plea for information
Det. Eric Muñoz with the Seattle Police Department confirmed that detectives are actively investigating the case and that no arrests were made at the scene. Du said he has been going door to door with nearby businesses to collect any additional video, plans to put up a cash reward for useful information, and intends to launch a fundraising page to support the injured worker and their family. The employee remains in the ICU with a broken ankle and a concussion and is still awaiting surgery, according to KOMO News.
How to share tips and save video for detectives
Investigators are asking anyone who witnessed the hit-and-run, or who has video showing the suspect vehicle leaving the area, to preserve that footage and provide it to police. Non-emergency tips can be submitted using the City of Seattle's reporting guidance or by calling the Seattle Police non-emergency line at 206-625-5011. Call 911 in an emergency. For official reporting options, see the guidance from the City of Seattle.
