Seattle police have confirmed the city’s first homicide of 2025, following a fatal shooting in Pioneer Square. Early Saturday morning, officers discovered a man deceased in a vehicle, a grim milestone for the city. This is in addition to others shootings over the weekend.
On Saturday afternoon, a police spokesperson revealed that investigators located at least 45 shell casings from various calibers of firearms at the scene. Multiple shots were fired during the incident, which is still under investigation, with no arrests made as of yet.
In addition to the fatality, a 23-year-old woman sustained injuries in the shooting. She arrived at Seattle’s Swedish Medical Center shortly after the police were alerted to the incident. The shooting is believed to have occurred around 1:30 a.m. on 2nd Avenue South, between South Jackson and South Main Streets.
Despite the efforts of Seattle Fire medics, the man was pronounced dead at the scene. Medical personnel at the emergency room are treating the injured woman, who is reported to be in serious but stable condition, with her injuries linked to the shooting. Detectives are currently investigating the motive and individuals involved, but no suspects have been identified.
While this represents the first homicide in Seattle this year, other data indicates it is the fourth murder in King County in 2025. Earlier incidents included the strangulation of Leda Louise Files, 62, by her son in Renton, a police shooting during a traffic stop in Auburn, and the stabbing of 16-year-old Alan Jaller-Garcia near Tukwila’s Foster High School. There is a decrease in homicides in King County in 2024 compared to the previous year, with 120 recorded homicides last year, down from a record-breaking 143 in 2023. Seattle accounted for 61 of those homicides, compared to 68 in 2023.
