An officer-involved shooting early Friday has Seattle police combing the area around Northwest 62nd Street and 28th Avenue Northwest in Ballard. In a bare-bones initial notice, the department said only that officers were on scene and that more information would be coming. So far, officials have not released any names, suspect descriptions, or details about possible injuries.
Seattle police are investigating an officer-involved shooting near NW 62nd St and 28th Ave NW. More information to follow.
- Seattle Police Department (@SeattlePD) Feb 13, 2026
What Seattle Police Said
In a post on X, the Seattle Police Department said officers were investigating an officer-involved shooting near NW 62nd Street and 28th Avenue NW and that "more information will follow." The department described the update as preliminary and said details could change as investigators gather facts.
How Independent Investigations Work In Washington
Deadly-force incidents involving police in Washington are handled by independent investigation teams under rules known as WAC 139-12 that emphasize independence, transparency, and community involvement. As outlined by the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission's LETCSA guidance, those rules call for independent investigators, non-law-enforcement community representatives, and regular public updates during these cases. Seattle also publishes officer-involved shooting data on a public dashboard that catalogs past incidents along with the department's reporting practices.
Where This Happened
The location named by police is in Ballard near the intersection of NW 62nd Street and 28th Avenue NW, a short walk from Adams Elementary School at 6110 28th Avenue NW. That stretch of Ballard is largely residential and hosts neighborhood events, so a large police response can quickly affect families, traffic, and nearby businesses. Officials have not said whether any nearby schools or businesses were evacuated.
Neighbors' Accounts
Residents posting on the Ballard subreddit said they heard multiple gunshots and saw a significant police and fire-rescue presence in the area. Scanner posts shared by locals suggested one person was transported from the scene, but those reports have not been confirmed by the Seattle Police Department. Community posts are unverified and should be treated as preliminary until investigators release official details.
What To Expect Next
Under state rules and recent Seattle practice, an independent investigative team, often led by the county sheriff's office or another designated unit, will handle any probe into a deadly-force incident and may forward its findings to the county prosecutor for review. In prior cases, the Seattle Police Department has worked with independent teams and public updates have been released as investigations proceed. The processes for investigator roles, medical examiner releases, and prosecutorial review are described in state guidance and past SPD statements. We will update this post as investigators and officials release further details.
