SEATTLE, WASHINGTON — A shooting at a community event outside a Safeway store in Rainier Beach, Seattle, on Friday night left five people injured, with the victims aged from their mid-20s to 30s. The event, organized as part of the Seattle Community Safety Initiative, was targeted with “dozens of rounds” being fired, said Seattle Police Chief Adrian Diaz. The initiative, held in the grocery store’s parking lot every Friday for nearly two years, aimed to reduce violence by providing a safe and festive community space.
Four of the five injured were taken to Harborview Medical Center. According to hospital spokesperson Susan Gregg, a 25-year-old and a 24-year-old were reported to be in satisfactory condition by Saturday morning, having arrived critically injured. A 34-year-old man has been treated and discharged, and a 28-year-old man is expected to be released on Saturday. The fifth individual received on-site treatment for minor injuries.
The perpetrators, reported as two unidentified suspects, remain at large, with no details available regarding their identities or their vehicle. The reason behind the incident, which occurred amidst an atmosphere of community unity and peace, remains unclear. Investigations are being led by the Seattle Police Department’s Gun Violence Reduction Unit.
On-site during the aftermath, Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell voiced concern over the city’s gun problem, stating “too many guns are in the wrong places and in the wrong hands.”
