SEATTLE — A man who was walking to a business became the unintended victim of a drive-by shooting in the Beacon Hill neighborhood, according to Seattle police.
The gang unit is now investigating the incident as the man recovers from a gunshot to the stomach.
Police say witnesses started calling 911 at about 5 p.m. Monday evening to report shots fired near Martin Luther King Jr. Way South and South Dawson Street. The shooting occurred on 33rd Avenue South, right by a marijuana dispensary.
There are only a few parking spots behind A Greener Today and people often have to park along 33rd and walk, customers said.
According to Lt. Rolf Towne with Seattle Police, the victim was walking to the dispensary when a black Lincoln pulled up and began firing shots at another car.
"It seems like the other vehicle was the intended target of the shooter in the black Lincoln," Lt. Towne said. "The victim was just in the wrong place at the wrong time."
As far as detectives know, no one in the other car was hurt. The customer, however, was rushed to the hospital in critical condition.
The marijuana shop closed early on Monday to help detectives with the investigation. When Latonya Williams came to the store to make a purchase, she was shocked to find out why its doors closed early.
"If it would have been 15 minutes later, that could have been me," she said. "I'm going to be praying for (the victim). I'm really sad and sorry to hear what happened."
Police discovered the Lincoln a short time later, which was abandoned. The gang unit is still looking for the people involved in the drive-by shooting. The suspects may not have meant to hit an innocent bystander but customers like Joe Greenwald say that doesn't matter.
"Aside from everything, I just hope that guy is OK," he said.
Cox Media Group
