SEATTLE — An investigation is underway after a man was fatally shot Thursday afternoon in Seattle’s Chinatown-International District.
Police were called after 2 p.m. to the intersection of 13th Avenue South and South Lane Street for reports that someone had been shot.
Officers arrived and found a man on the ground with a gunshot wound. Police performed lifesaving measures, but the man was pronounced dead at the scene.
The shooter fled the scene, resulting in a search for whoever committed the crime.
Several people who approached a KIRO 7 crew at the scene about the man who was shot said he was trying to get his life back on track. They said they were saddened to hear he died in a tragic situation. Many people who drove by the scene said they were concerned about their safety going forward.
“You know, it’s not safe out here anymore,” one man told KIRO 7.
Some people who store items at a nearby storage unit said they were considering going elsewhere after the shooting.
“I mean, I love this area. You know, I’m born and raised here, but it kind of makes me wanna leave the area honestly because it’s every day. It’s consistent,” one man said.
It has been a violent year in the Chinatown-International District. According to crime statistics from the Seattle Police Department, before Thursday’s homicide, there were six reported deadly shootings in the neighborhood, which is the highest in all of the city’s areas.
Police were asked if the person shot or the shooter was homeless. They said it was too early to tell in the investigation.
“At this point, this is all under investigation. But that is something we will be exploring and looking into as detectives go through everything. But at this point, still unknown,” Detective Valarie Carson said.
“I wish it would stop and I hope this would stop, but I don’t think it will any time soon,” one man told KIRO 7.
It is not known what led to the shooting.
Investigators are asking anyone with information about the shooting to call the Violent Crimes Tip Line at 206-233-5000.
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