A 36-year-old security guard was shot and killed and a 27-year-old woman was seriously wounded early Sunday in a drive-by shooting outside a south Seattle venue, according to police.
Emergency dispatchers began receiving 911 calls shortly before 1 a.m. regarding gunfire in the 5800 block of Fourth Avenue South, the Seattle Police Department reported. Officers rushed to the scene at Kittens Cabaret, an adult entertainment venue, where they found the security guard dead from gunshot wounds, KOMO News reported.
First responders located the second victim, a 27-year-old woman, suffering from a gunshot wound to her leg. Officers provided initial medical aid until Seattle Fire Department medics arrived on the scene. Paramedics transported the injured woman to Harborview Medical Center in serious condition, according to the police blotter.
Car Found Ablaze in Georgetown
Reviewing surveillance recordings alongside physical clues, detectives concluded that an automobile rolled into the club’s parking lot, where a driver discharged several rounds from inside the vehicle before speeding away, police said. Investigators have not released a description of the shooter or confirmed how many occupants were inside the car.
Within an hour of the gunfire, authorities tracked the suspected automobile to the nearby Georgetown neighborhood in south Seattle, where it was discovered completely engulfed in flames, KOMO News reported.
The burning vehicle startled residents and nearby business operators. Marisa Figueroa, who owns Bloom Bistro and Grocery near where the car was abandoned, told KOMO News that residents were shaken by the scene. “The neighbors obviously were a bit shocked,” Figueroa said, noting that customers visited her shop trying to make sense of what occurred.
Figueroa said the incident reflects ongoing criminal problems spilling into Georgetown, where neighbors have frequently contended with break-ins and gunfire. She noted that the morning violence has amplified local requests for increased law enforcement patrols and faster response times from city emergency personnel. “I know [Seattle police] are busy but there’s violence down here, and there’s only so much we can do as a community to help each other out,” Figueroa told KOMO News.
Detectives Appeal for Public Leads
Investigators from the Seattle Police Department Homicide Unit and Crime Scene Investigation personnel processed the parking lot scene on Sunday morning to piece together the events preceding the fatal encounter. Officials have not disclosed what prompted the attack or whether the victims were targeted.
As of Sunday evening, police had not reported any arrests or identified suspects in the case. Detectives urged anyone with surveillance recordings, dashcam footage or tips related to the shooting to reach the Seattle Police Violent Crimes Tip Line at 206-233-5000.
