2 dead, 3 wounded in separate overnight shootings in Seattle’s Belltown neighborhood

The first shooting was reported shortly after 12:42 am, when dispatchers received reports of two shooting victims, one near Third Avenue and Denny Way and another a couple of blocks away near Third Avenue and Clay Street.

Responding officers found one man suffering from a gunshot wound to the chest and another who had been shot in the abdomen. Police provided aid until Seattle Fire Department medics arrived.

Both victims were transported to Harborview Medical Center. The man found near Denny Way arrived in critical condition and later died despite lifesaving efforts. The second victim was hospitalized in serious condition.

Two additional victims, an adult man and woman, later arrived at Harborview seeking treatment for gunshot wounds, bringing the number of people shot in the incident to four. With assistance from Seattle's Real Time Crime Center, investigators determined that an altercation involving three people occurred on the street shortly before the shooting.

Police also confirmed that street racing had occurred at the intersection before the gunfire but said the racing and shooting were not connected. Residents told KOMO News that street-racing takeovers have become a frequent problem in the area and occurred on back-to-back nights over the weekend.

The weekend takeover was not the first time street racing has caused problems in Belltown. In March, street racers took over the intersection of Denny Way and Broad Street shortly after midnight, with multiple vehicles doing donuts and blocking traffic as a crowd gathered to watch.

According to police, some participants used Lime bikes and scooters to block other vehicles from passing. A 52-year-old man was allegedly assaulted by people attending the takeover after he attempted to move a scooter blocking his vehicle, which was also damaged. The crowd dispersed when police arrived, and neighbors later criticized SPD's response time.

Detectives from SPD's Homicide Unit and Gun Violence Reduction Unit are investigating what led to Sunday's first shooting.

Less than 90 minutes after that shooting was reported, police were called to another homicide in Belltown. Shortly before 2 am, officers responded to reports of gunfire near Third Avenue and Blanchard Street. Police found a woman inside a vehicle suffering from gunshot wounds to her head and torso. Officers rendered aid until Seattle Fire Department medics arrived, and she was transported to Harborview in critical condition. She later died from her injuries.

According to police, the woman was sitting inside a parked vehicle when a suspect fired several rounds into it, striking her. The shooter fled the area.

Police said the two deadly shootings were unrelated.

The two killings come just six weeks after another deadly burst of gun violence only blocks away at Seattle Center. On July 26, gunfire erupted during the Bite of Seattle, killing three people and wounding four others, including a 2-year-old child. Police later described the shooting as gang-related and said multiple people exchanged gunfire in the middle of the crowded festival. Investigators recovered multiple firearms and have continued searching for additional suspects.

A judge last week ordered the 15-year-old arrested in connection with the Bite shooting to remain in custody. Prosecutors allege the teenager fired at least three shots into the crowd using a ghost gun equipped with an extended magazine capable of holding 33 rounds.

Interim Police Chief Andre Sayles issued a statement Sunday afternoon. “We will stand together with our community to bring justice to these victims and their loved ones,” Sayles said in part. “We will work tirelessly with our partners to find lasting solutions.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Seattle Police Department's Violent Crimes Tip Line at 206-233-5000.