There were no reported injuries early Saturday morning when a gunman opened fire in a Broadway parking lot across from the nightlife crowds of Neighbours and other nearby clubs just after 2 AM.
A huge SPD response filled blocks of Broadway with police cars and officers as police moved patrons inside nearby nightlife venues during the initial response to the gunfire. According to East Precinct radio dispatches, a male with a gun was reported around 2:15 AM in the parking lot behind the Mud Bay pet supply store in the 1500 block of Broadway. A report of shots fired followed.
All information in this report is preliminary and has not yet been confirmed by SPD. UPDATE 9:33 AM: SPD has posted a brief update on the incident:
There were no reported injuries early this morning on Broadway after officers heard several shots fired shortly after bar closing. Just before 2:15 am, Nightlife Emphasis officers working near Broadway and East Pine heard six to seven shots fired just to the north of them. As the officers rushed to investigate, they located a male fleeing the scene. He told officer that an unknown male shot at him and his friend for unknown reasons, but then the victim became uncooperative with the officers. Officers located six shell casings in the parking lot and did observe a broken window to a nearby apartment complex. Officers checked on the resident and determined that they were unharmed. Officers did not locate any injured people. Officers collected the evidence and continue to investigate.
Lots of police @jseattle pic.twitter.com/8Ss4PTWbTl
— Tim Clemans (@timclemansatspr) July 16, 2016
Nobody was reported hit in the gunfire and officers cautiously looked for the suspect in the crowded parking lot. Police provided a limited suspect description via radio of a Middle Eastern male wearing all black but it wasn’t clear where the information had come from. Witnesses provided conflicting descriptions of where the gunman may have fled. Police identified a Mercedes at the scene that may have been associated with the man.
At least one window in the area was reported struck by gunfire.
CHS is not currently aware of any arrests in the incident.
