Mother sues Seattle for son’s death in CHAZ

Anderson was allegedly chased down by Marcel Long and shot 4 times after what surveillance video showed was a brief interaction. The shooting took place on the night of June 20th while the Capital Hill neighbourhood is Seattle was occupied by protesters and declared a "no-cop" zone.

Anderson spoke to Long briefly which prompted Long to pull out a gun. Anderson fled and Long chased him down and shot him according to court documents. Long is still at large and is wanted for 1st degree murder charges.

After Anderson was shot Seattle paramedics refused to enter the Capital Hill Autonomous Zone (CHAZ), also known as CHOP, Capital Hill Occupied Protest, because the Seattle police had abandoned the area and the paramedics were concerned for their safety. The refusal to provide Anderson emergency medical care is the chief complaint in Donnitta Sinclair's lawsuit.

Anderson was brought to a local medical centre after the shooting by a bystander and was declared deceased. Other bystanders were seen pleading with a nearby ambulance to enter the CHAZ area to aid Anderson but they refused.

Anderson's mother Donnitta spoke out about the decision of the paramedics to not enter the area, "Explain to me why they didn’t go in there and help my son."

Sinclair is being represented by Mark Lindquist, the former Pierce County Prosecutor. According to the law suit, the Mayor of Seattle and other council members made comments calling CHAZ “a summer of love” and a “block party” during interviews while the situation was occurring. "City officials can’t have it both ways. One day it’s a ‘summer of love,’ and the next day it’s too dangerous for police and medics to help someone who’s dying?" Lindquist inquire according to KIRO 7.

“We intend to investigate these brought claims and will defend the City in this matter," said Dan Nolte, a spokesman for the Seattle City Attorney’s Office.