Employee shot in robbery at White Center pot store

WHITE CENTER, Wash. — Police are searching for multiple suspects after a shooting and robbery at a recreational marijuana shop in White Center.

It happened at Star 21 near First Avenue South and South 110th Street shortly before 10 p.m. Tuesday.

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A store employee said he saw lights and then heard loud banging near the front door.

When he opened the door, he saw a vehicle rapidly backing into the barriers placed in front of the store. A group of men, wearing masks, got out of the car and ran toward him. The employee tried to close the door but the men forced their way inside the store, according to the King County Sheriff's Office.

One of the suspects shot the 25-year-old employee in the shoulder as they entered the store. The suspects were described by the victim as black men wearing masks and hoodies, police said.

Once inside the store, the men rummaged through the store, taking items before fleeing northbound in the car.  A short time later, a deputy found the empty car near South 110th Street and Occidental Avenue South.

The car, a black sedan, had been reported stolen in a carjacking in SeaTac at about 11 p.m. Monday.

The sheriff's office said the victim was sitting in his car in a parking lot in the 3500 block of South 180th Street when he was approached by three males.  One of them pulled out a handgun, pointed it at the victim and demanded his car keys. The suspects then fled in the car.

The suspects in that case were described as two Hispanic males and one black male, all believed to be in their teens.

Surveillance video of the suspects and victim was captured by a convenience store next door to the pot shop where the shooting happened.

It shows the suspects going into the store and the victim moments after he was shot in the shoulder.

The video shows a black sedan backing up to the front of the business, then multiple men running inside.

The men exit the shop quickly and then leave in the car. A few minutes later, the video shows a few men coming from around the corner. One is holding his shoulder before falling to the ground.

Police are looking for at least three suspects in connection with the shooting.

Authorities say the victim was taken to Harborview with non-life-threatening injuries.

He is expected to survive.

Cox Media Group