Seattle police have arrested a 41-year-old man for assault and unlawful possession of a firearm following a shooting investigation in the Chinatown International District early Monday morning. At approximately 1:40 a.m., officers responded to reports of a man pointing a gun at individuals in Hing Hay Park. During the 911 call, dispatch informed responding officers that the suspect had discharged a firearm while the victim was still on the line.
Analysts from the Real Time Crime Center reviewed footage from community space cameras. Although the shooting itself was not captured on video, the footage revealed multiple people fleeing the park at the time of the incident, with the suspect seen running toward 6th Avenue South. Within two minutes of the initial 911 call, police located the suspect in the 600 block of South Jackson Street and arrested him without resistance, recovering a firearm from his pocket.
Investigations revealed that the suspect had approached a victim and her boyfriend, engaging in a verbal altercation. During the confrontation, he reportedly fired a gun at them, though neither was injured. According to the police report, the suspect threatened the victim, stating, “he was going to kill her.”
The man has been booked into the King County Jail on charges of assault and unlawful possession of a firearm. As a convicted felon, he is prohibited from owning firearms. Detectives from the Gun Violence Reduction Unit are now handling the case. Local residents and business owners have expressed alarm over the increasing incidents of gun violence and are calling for more proactive measures to ensure public safety.
Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell has emphasized the city’s commitment to reducing gun violence and enhancing community safety. Locals seeing news about neighbors fleeing are uneasy once again about violence. Some are hopeful that by working together, they can make significant strides in addressing these pressing issues and fostering a sense of security within the community.
The Chinatown-International District Night Market (CID Night Market) in Seattle is set for this coming Saturday from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m., featuring vendors across multiple city blocks. Now in its 18th year, the annual street festival will showcase over 100 local vendors, performers, and community members celebrating the vibrant CID.
