A man was shot in the chest at a homeless encampment in Seattle's Rainier Beach area Wednesday evening, and the person who pulled the trigger sped off in a vehicle before officers could catch up. The victim, believed to be about 42 years old, was rushed to the hospital in stable condition, while detectives were still searching for the shooter as of Wednesday night.
Officers Responded to Reports of a Man Shot in the Chest
According to KOMO News, officers responded at about 6:30 p.m. to a report of a man shot in the chest in the 9200 block of 42nd Avenue South. A separate account from KING 5 places the shooting around 6:45 p.m. in the same block, citing a Seattle police public information officer. Either way, the shooting happened at an encampment in the Rainier Beach area of Seattle, according to police.
Police said a suspect in a vehicle shot the victim and then fled the scene before officers arrived. Responding officers provided medical aid to the man until Seattle Fire Department crews arrived and took over, per the KOMO report. Paramedics then transported him to Harborview Medical Center, where he remained in stable condition.
Suspect Still at Large as Detectives Investigate
As of Wednesday night, the suspect had not been located, the station's report notes. Detectives with the Gun Violence Reduction Unit are now investigating the circumstances that led up to the shooting, working to piece together what happened in the moments before shots were fired.
Much about the case remains unknown for now. Investigators have not released the victim's name, and no additional details about his injuries beyond his stable condition have been made public. Police also have not said how many shots were fired or described the vehicle involved in the shooting, leaving key parts of the encounter still under wraps while the early-stage investigation continues.
