KING, PIERCE COUNTIES, Wash. — Troopers are investigating a series of at least six shootings with at least seven vehicles hit on Interstate 5 Monday night.
Several people were hurt. Two victims were in critical condition Tuesday afternoon. One was shot in the neck.
The gunfire spanned across King and Pierce counties between Fife and Seattle.
A suspect believed to be involved in at least some of the shootings was taken into custody overnight.
Pierce County Sheriff’s officials confirmed the suspect was Eric Jerome Perkins, 44.
Washington State Patrol said the shootings happened in two bursts. The first three shootings took place between roughly 8:30 and 8:45, while the second three shootings took place in the minutes before and after 11 p.m.
The first happened just before 8:30 p.m. in the northbound lanes around SR-18. Someone inside a white Volvo fired several rounds and struck the passenger of a car. The female passenger remained in critical condition Tuesday.
Then, another shooting was reported on I-5 near Martin Luther King Jr. Way in Seattle. A victim reported being shot but did not see a suspect vehicle.
Another shooting was reported just one minute later, on I-5 North near I-90. A passenger was hurt by broken glass.
Just over two hours later, another three shootings were reported on I-5 South.
Just before 11 p.m., a shooting was reported near SR-18. The driver and passenger sustained non-life-threatening injuries to the legs and have been released from the hospital.
A minute later, another shooting was reported near 375th Street. No one was hurt, but car windows were broken.
A few minutes later, another shooting was reported. The victim was struck in the neck.
At a press conference Tuesday afternoon, the Washington State Patrol said there was a total of six known shootings, with a seventh victim stepping forward after they arrived in Portland with bullet holes in their vehicle.
One person was arrested overnight in connection with at least four of the shootings.
At 11:09 p.m. Monday, University Place deputies were dispatched to help troopers find the suspect - University Place contracts with the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department for law enforcement.
When they arrived at a home in the 8500 block of 22nd Street West, they looked for the suspect’s car, which was not in the area.
At 12:15 a.m. Tuesday, a deputy saw the suspect’s car pull into the Boulders at Puget Sound Apartments on Westridge Avenue West. They called for backup, but by the time it arrived, the suspect had pulled out of the parking lot, according to Pierce County Sheriff’s Department Sgt. Darren Moss.
Deputies followed the car to 19th Street West, where a Fircrest Police officer had set up stop sticks, which brought the car to a halt.
Deputies conducted a felony traffic stop, and the suspect was taken into custody by a Fircrest officer and a trooper.
We spoke with a trooper Monday night about the rash of highway violence.
“I think people need to be aware and if they see any aggressive driving call 911 so troopers can address these problems accordingly,” said Trooper Nick Jones.
Washington State Patrol said that before last night, there had been 30 shooting investigations in King County so far this year. That’s the same number there was at this point last year. Monday’s additional seven pushes the number over.
Patrol officials said it’s too early to tell what the motive for the shootings could be, but officers believe the shootings were random.
They are urging any other witnesses or possible victims to come forward.
2/2 Thanks to @TacomaPD @LakewoodPDCO University Place PD @PuyallupPD Pierce County Sheriff and Fircrest PD who was the agency that made the arrest after locating the suspect vehicle. More info to come later this morning.
— Trooper Rick Johnson (@wspd2pio) September 3, 2024
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