Shortly before 3 a.m. Tuesday, a quiet stretch of southbound Interstate 5 near the Seattle Convention Center turned unsettling when a bullet punched into the right-rear door of a black Mercedes SUV, according to state troopers. The driver told investigators he heard a sharp, loud crack and felt the impact but walked away uninjured, leaving Washington State Patrol detectives to sort out what appears to be a drive-by shooting with no obvious suspect.
According to KOMO News, WSP communications took a 911 call at about 2:50 a.m. reporting that the Mercedes had been shot while heading south on I-5 near the convention center. Troopers later confirmed the vehicle had a single bullet strike in the right-rear door and said there was no description of a suspect vehicle or shooter available in the early going.
State patrol investigating, echoes of earlier I-5 shootings
The Washington State Patrol is now asking anyone who was in the area to step forward, a familiar request for drivers who use that stretch of freeway. Similar appeals have gone out after other I-5 shootings, as detectives lean heavily on motorists' tips and any video they can get.
In a January press release, WSP urged the public to contact detectives following another reported drive-by on I-5, underscoring that this is far from a one-off problem. In that earlier case, Washington State Patrol asked witnesses to share what they saw or captured on camera, a playbook that patrol leaders are essentially running again here.
Video and tips have cracked cases before
Troopers know from experience that even a few seconds of footage can make or break an investigation. In October 2025, detectives sifted through dash-cam and surveillance video tied to another drive-by shooting near the convention center and used it to secure a search warrant that led to an arrest, KIRO 7 reported. That case is a reminder that clear license plates, vehicle details or even background audio can turn into crucial evidence.
How to share what you saw
For this latest shooting, anyone who was driving near the Seattle Convention Center around 3 a.m. Tuesday or who has dash-cam footage from that window is urged to contact the Washington State Patrol. Investigators are asking people to keep their original files intact instead of editing or posting them on social media.
Washington State Patrol lists public and media contacts for submitting tips. KOMO News includes the relevant incident details callers can reference. If you were in the area and have video or information, troopers say you should preserve the original file and call 911.
