Renton, SeaTac shootings thought to be random, but ‘potentially racially-motivated,’ authorities say

Three people were shot at three different locations in Renton and SeaTac on Thursday.

Renton police arrested a suspect, 32-year old Mamadou Diallo, who is believed to be connected to all three shootings.

The first shooting happened just after 1 p.m. outside a grocery store in Renton along Rainier Avenue.

The owner of the store told KIRO 7 a man came in, used the bathroom and left. He then tried coming back inside but fell at the door. The owner said he thought the man was having a heart attack, but when Renton officers arrived, they discovered the man had been shot multiple times.

The 57-year-old male victim in that shooting suffered critical injuries, police said.

A second shooting happened at around 1:40 p.m. at a Kia car dealership on Southwest Grady Way. Renton police allege Diallo drove into a new part of the dealership’s lot and shot an employee multiple times. The 42-year-old male victim was taken to Harborview Medical Center and has since been released, according to Renton police.

The King County Sheriff’s Office also confirmed a shooting on 160th Street in SeaTac just after 2 p.m. A man with multiple gunshot wounds was taken to Harborview Medical Center, authorities said.

Officers talked to witnesses at the scene who gave them descriptions of the car the suspect was driving. Deputies used a helicopter to track down the gold Dodge Journey.

“They initiated a traffic stop, the individual in the vehicle immediately pulled over and was compliant and was detained without any incident, without any issues,” said King County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Corbett Ford.

Diallo was arrested in Tacoma.

A judge found probable cause for Diallo for three counts of first-degree assault on Friday.

Officials said the shootings appeared to be random and “potentially racially-motivated.” In interviews with detectives, Diallo said numerous times that he did not like “Black people” because “they always killing each other.” All three men Diallo shot are Black.

Charging documents also identify Diallo as Black.

Prosecutors argued that Diallo is a danger to the community and asked for his bail to be set at $5 million. A judge ultimately set bail at $3 million.

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