Suspect In Seattle Officer Shootings Died Of 'Multiple Gunshot Wounds'

SEATTLE, WA - The King County Medical Examiner's office released the identity and cause of death of the suspect involved in Thursday's shooting of three police officers in downtown Seattle. The suspect was identified as Damarius Butts, 19. The medical examiner determined that Butts died of "multiple gunshot wounds."

Also on Friday, Seattle police released a video from the scene of the shooting, which captures two officers chasing Butts and an exchange of gunfire.

The incident broke out Thursday afternoon just after 1 p.m. when Seattle police confronted two suspects who allegedly robbed a 7-Eleven along 1st Avenue. The officers chased one suspect into the loading dock area of a federal office building along 1st Avenue, which is when the officers and Butts appear to exchange gunfire.

One officer, a 30-year-old man, was shot in the face and chest and was still being treated Friday at Harborview Medical Center. A second officer, a 42-year-old female, was shot in the chest, but was spared by her bulletproof vest; she was released from the hospital on Thursday night. A third officer was grazed in the hand. A fourth officer was injured after being hit in the head with a bottle by the other suspect, a 17-year-old female. The 17-year-old was arrested at the scene.

The shooting all but shut down downtown Seattle on Thursday afternoon as police combed the area near Marion Street and Western Avenue for a third suspect and collected evidence. A third suspect was arrested Thursday night at 6 p.m.

Seattle police Assistant Chief Carmen Best on Thursday night declined to say whether Butts had died as a result of a self-inflicted gunshot wound or because he was shot by police.

Image via Hunter Ault