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SPD investigating two shooting targets left on Capitol Hill

The used shooting target left at the 18th and Madison office (Photo: LWVS-KC)

The used shooting target left at the 18th and Madison office (Photo: LWVS-KC)

Seattle police are investigating why two paper shooting targets riddled with bullet holes were left outside within a block of each other this month on Capitol Hill. The first was reported by staff at the League of Women Voters  at 18th and Madison, in what a spokesperson said was likely an attempt at intimidation for the groups’s recent endorsement of gun control legislation. The target was left outside the nonprofit’s door sometime over the 4th of July weekend.

CHS found out about the second shooting target on Friday when a CHS tipster emailed us after seeing it posted on a tree near the Shell gas station at 17th and Madison.

“I didn’t take a photo but there were bullet holes similar to the one left at LWV,” said the tipster in an email.

The tipster made a report to SPD, but a police spokesperson was unable to provide CHS with any details at the time. On Monday SPD said they had little information on who might be behind the targets and asked anyone with knowledge of the targets to call 911. From SPD’s Blotter:

Seattle police are investigating two bullet-riddled shooting targets left at different sites on Capitol Hill earlier this month.

Workers at the League of Women Voters Capitol Hill office—in the 1600 block of 18th Avenue—found the first one on July 5th after returning from the holiday weekend to find a target, pockmarked with bullet holes, outside the front door of their building. Staff called police, who took the target and submitted it for fingerprint testing.

More than a week later, on July 17th, police received a call about a second target with bullet holes tacked to a tree at 17th and E. Madison Street, about two blocks away from where police found the first practice target.

Police have little information about who’s been posting these targets, or what their motivation might be, but SPD is investigating and asking anyone who knows anything about these incidents to call 911.

UPDATE: A pro-gun group calling itself the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms released a statement calling the targets part of a political stunt:

“Rather than use this alleged incident to fatten their $2.7 million dollar campaign war chest with email appeals for sympathy and more money, they should offer a reward for the arrest and conviction of whoever perpetrated the alleged threat”

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Regret
Regret
9 years ago

I completely understand the concern of people who feel threatened by finding a target on their doorstep, but I’m curious as to what law was violated… because the threat appears only to be implied. Is there a “if I feel threatened, then it is a threat” part of the law? That would seem to have 1st amendment issues.

caphilllover
caphilllover
9 years ago

This is Seattle…hurt feelings are investigated