3 Seattle Police Officers Wounded,1 Suspect Dead In Downtown Shooting

SEATTLE, WA — One suspect is dead and three Seattle police officers were shot after a gunfight broke out in downtown Seattle Thursday afternoon following a robbery at a 7-Eleven. The shooting happened after Seattle officers confronted two suspects - a male and a female - after the robbery. The incident threw the downtown area into chaos as dozens of officers responded to the scene, shutting down streets and causing gridlock.

Information about the number of suspects and the condition of the involved officers changed throughout the afternoon, but Seattle police released a clearer narrative of what happened on Thursday night. Here's what police say happened:

At 1:18 p.m., police responded to a robbery at the 7-Eleven near the intersection of 1st Avenue and Cherry Street. Police learned that a 17-year-old female and a 19-year-old male had fled the scene north up 1st Avenue.

Police caught up to the two suspects near the intersection of Western Avenue and Marion Street. Officers scuffled with the suspects, and the 17-year-old allegedly hit an officer in the head with a bottle. Meanwhile, the 19-year-old man ran into the doorway of a building and began firing at officers. Police did exchange gunfire with the suspect, who escaped into the building.

During the gunfire exchange, three officers were shot: a 27-year veteran was grazed in the hand and released from the hospital on Thursday. A 30-year-old male was shot in the face and rib cage; he was initially listed in critical condition, but was upgraded to serious condition after receiving treatment. He was still being treated Thursday night at Harborview Medical Center. A 42-year-old female officer was hit in the chest and was in stable condition and had been released from the hospital. A fourth officer - the one who was hit in the head with a bottle - was treated at the scene of the shooting.

After tending to the wounded officers, police set up a perimeter near the office building, which is a federal building along the west side of 1st Avenue. The SWAT team arrived and swept through the building and found the 19-year-old suspect dead inside. Police have not determined how the suspect died; the King County Medical Examiner will make a final ruling.

Immediately after the shooting, police said there was a third suspect, but then later retracted that information. However, they did arrest a third person - another 19-year-old man - around 6 p.m. Thursday.

During a media briefing Thursday afternoon, both Assistant Chief Carmen Best and Mayor Ed Murray were optimistic about the wounded officers' conditions.

"He appears to be doing fine," Assistant Chief Carmen Best said of the officer who was wounded in the chin and rib cage. "Both officers were wearing vests at the time."

The incident caused major congestion downtown for pedestrians, transit riders, drivers, and ferry users. Seattle Mayor Ed Murray asked drivers and downtown workers to be patient during the situation.

"This is still an active crime scene, and we ask you to be patient and stay out of the area," Murray said around 2:45 p.m. Thursday. Murray said that he met and talked with both officers, and one he said "was smiling."

The city closed a four-block radius around the shooting scene, but by 4 p.m., only Western Avenue between Marion and Spring Street was closed.

Traffic along First and Second avenues was nearly at a standstill as of 2 p.m. Thursday. The Seattle Department of Transportation said a four-block area between Second Avenue, Western Avenue, Marion Street and Spring Street was closed. However, at least one lane along 2nd Avenue had reopened by 3 p.m.

After the shooting, access to state ferries at the Colman Dock was also restricted. Cars leaving Colman Dock were being directed either north or south along Alaskan Way; there is no eastbound access. Meanwhile, transit agencies were warning bus users to expect delays throughout rush hour.

The last time a Seattle police officer was shot was in 2009 when officer Timothy Brenton, 39, was killed in a drive-by shooting in downtown Seattle on Halloween night.

This is the third police shooting in the Puget Sound area over the last few months. On Nov. 30, Tacoma Officer Reginald “Jake” Gutierrez was killed responding to a domestic violence call. Weeks later, Mt. Vernon Officer Mike McClaughry, 61, was shot in the head. He survived, but was left blind from his injuries.

Police are asking for the public's help with the investigation. Anyone with photographs or video of the incident can share them with the police Homicide/Assault Unit by calling (206) 684-5550.

Image courtesy Dillon Sand