Police investigating homicide in South Seattle

SEATTLE — Police are investigating after a 52-year-old man was found dead with a gunshot wound to his head early Sunday in South Seattle.

Detectives have not publicly released a motive for the killing that’s now being investigated as a homicide. No arrests have been made.

Around 1 a.m., Seattle police say a passerby told a patrol officer about a potentially intoxicated driver next to a car in the 4200 block of South Willow Street.

The officer went to the car and found the victim with a gunshot wound to his head. Seattle Fire medics declared him dead at the scene.

KIRO 7 spoke with a neighbor who said he was asleep on the couch when police knocked on his door early Sunday— He did not hear gunshots but described seeing the victim lying face down in the street next to a car with a driver’s side door open.

That neighbor, who did not want to speak on camera, said he and other neighbors were on edge and showed KIRO 7 the gun he was carrying on his hip for protection to walk a loved one to their car.

The King County Medical Examiner’s Office may release additional information Monday, including the victim’s name.

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