(Image: SDOT)

Shots from a drive-by gun battle echoed through the Central District Tuesday night putting at least one business under lockdown and briefly closing 23rd Ave to traffic as Seattle Police collected evidence.

There were no reported injuries.

Witnesses reported dozens of shots fired near 23rd and Jackson just before 7:30 PM and the Walgreens in the nearby shopping center reportedly went into lockdown, according to East Precinct radio updates.

In a brief on the incident, police say witnesses reported “an occupant of a gray SUV exchanged gunfire with someone on the street.” That vehicle was last reported northbound on 23rd Ave. Police say they made no arrests.

23rd Ave was briefly closed to traffic in both directions between Main and Yesler during the response.

Tuesday’s gunfire comes amid a call for community involvement and investment in the neighborhood in response to ongoing gun violence and an incident that frayed nerves as shots rang out during a youth football game Saturday afternoon at nearby Judkins Park.

Saturday’s incident was part of a weekend of shots fired incidents in the city, SPD says, amid an ongoing increase in gun violence.

SPD says it and its Gun Violence Reduction Unit have investigated 428 incidents of gunfire to date this year, a 33% increase from the same period in 2020.

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