Nagle was shut down overnight during the investigation (Image: SPD)
A man was reported shot on the basketball court at Cal Anderson Park and died on the west edge of the park as police rendered emergency aid and Seattle Fire medics arrived at the scene early Saturday morning.
Police reported detaining one person in at least one vehicle stop following the 12:30 AM shooting but were searching for a smaller SUV reported leaving the area where the shooting took place along Nagle on the west side of the park.
Police were sent to the area after 911 callers reported gunfire around 12:30 AM. Arriving officers found a chaotic scene near the basketball court and a man down on the pavement near the popular late night gathering area with gunshot wounds to his leg and chest, according to East Precinct radio updates.
Seattle Fire was called to the scene around 12:34 AM to treat the victim reported as a man in his 30s but could not immediately enter the area until it had been established as secure by Seattle Police seven minutes later. SPD reports the man was declared dead at the scene.
The killing marks the 27th murder in Seattle and fifth homicide under investigation in the East Precinct this year. There were five here in 2021, a dozen recorded in 2020, and also five in 2019.
SPD detectives spoke with witnesses and gathered evidence from the park. Officers reported finding rifle shell casings near the court but it wasn’t known if they were related to the overnight shooting.
If you have information that could help, contact SPD’s violent crime tip line at (206) 233-5000.
UPDATE: The victim has been identified as Mercer Roy, 32, KIRO reports:
Roy was at Cal Anderson Park playing basketball, say friends, like he did nearly every day. Eyewitnesses say there was an argument on the court and someone pulled out a gun. When it was over, the 32-year-old father of a young daughter was dead.
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