A suspect in a shooting in South Seattle last week told police that when he opened fire at Rainier Ave and S Orchard, he was simply defending himself from south end gang members.
According to a police report, officers responded to reports of gunfire at Rainier Ave and S Orchard St around 10:30 p.m. on August 11th, where witnesses told police several suspects had fled the scene in a Chevy Suburban.
As patrol officers searched the area looking for the suspects in the Suburban, several gang detectives spotted the vehicle near Lake Washington Blvd and Lake Park Dr S.
The Suburban’s driver pulled into a parking lot, and a 23-year-old man “abruptly” climbed out of the vehicle, the report says.
Gang detectives stopped ordered the man to get on the ground at gunpoint, and then told him to crawl on his hands and knees towards another officer at the scene.
As the man crawled towards officers, a gun fell out of the 23-year-old man’s clothing, onto the pavement.
Police arrested the 23-year-old man, and also took the 22-year-old driver into custody.
Detectives took both men to SPD headquarters downtown, where the 23 year old admitted to opening fire at Rainier and Orchard, but said it was “because he was shot at by south end gang members and was defending himself,” the report says.
It appears the man hasn’t been charged yet. We’ll update when prosecutors file charges.
