April 8, 2009

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SeaTac Shootings Wound Three, One Critical
Video Released, Witnesses Sought

Gunfire left three men seriously injured yesterday afternoon in the city of SeaTac. One of the three is in critical condition this morning at Harborview.  Two of the three received multiple gunshot wounds in the shooting.   All have Seattle addresses.

The incident occurred about 4:08 PM as a 2000 Cadillac deVille was stopped along with other traffic northbound on International Boulevard at S. 188th.  A man jumped out of a 1998 Ford Taurus with a rifle similar to an AK-47 or SKS and opened fire on the Cadillac.  Numerous rounds were fired before the shooter got back in the suspect vehicle and sped off.  Three other men were in the Taurus.

A 20 year-old woman and her 2 year-old son were in the backseat of the Cadillac.  They were not hit.

Two vehicles suffered crash damages in the ensuing chaos immediately after the shooting.  A stray round may have also hit one of the cars.  However there were no injuries in either car.

The driver of the Cadillac, 23, and the passenger, age 21, were struck several times by bullets and taken to Harborview Medical Center.  The driver is in critical condition and the passenger in serious condition.

Shortly after the shooting, a man was dropped off at the Riverton Campus of Highline Hospital with a serious gunshot wound to the groin.  The car that dropped him off matched the described suspect vehicle.  He was transferred to Harborview.  Detectives are not sure how he was shot.

UPDATE- Video Released, Witnesses Sought

The Sheriff's Office is looking for any witnesses to yesterday’s shooting in SeaTac.  Two men were wounded one critically.  In addition, a possible suspect was shot in the groin, and the circumstances surrounding that injury remain unclear.

A video is attached that shows the immediate aftermath of the shooting.  The video starts just after about 20 rounds were fired from an AK-47 or similar rifle into a stopped car occupied by four people, include a 2 year-old boy. 

(Detectives now believe there were at least two shooters and at least two guns.)

About 8 seconds into the video the victim’s Cadillac can be seen trying to force its way through congested traffic after the shots were fired.  Then the suspect’s Ford Taurus comes into clear view as three suspects clamber back into the car and it flees northbound on International Blvd.

Detectives would like to speak with anyone who was stuck in traffic and may be able to identify the suspects.  (The Taurus used by the shooters has been located.)

Witnesses are asked to call the Sheriff's Office at (206) 296-3311 (24 hrs).

April 10 UPDATE

Detectives have arrested three of the four persons they believe are responsible for a brazen, rush-hour shooting on Tuesday April 7th.  Two people were wounded in the shooting, one critically,

The driver of the getaway car, age 20, was arrested that day after he was dropped off at Riverton Hospital shortly after the incident.  He had sustained a “very serious” gunshot wound to his groin area inflicted when one of his cohorts accidently fired off a pistol he was holding.

The second suspect, age 21, was arrested this morning in Burien by detectives.

The third suspect, 21, was detained in Idaho just before noon by local authorities.  Sheriff's detectives are currently in route to interview him.

Detectives are still investigating the case in hopes of positively identifying and locating the 4th suspect.

The shooting that precipitated these arrests occurred about 4:00 PM on April 7th when a 2000 Cadillac was ambushed as it waited at a red light at S. 188th and International Blvd.  Numerous rounds were fired into the car from an AK-47-type rifle as the gunman stood near the sidewalk.  The driver was critically injured and the front seat passenger sustained serious injuries from several gunshot wounds.   Both remain at Harborview.

Three people were seen on security video getting into the Taurus, driven by a fourth man, immediately after the shooting.

Charges for those arrested are expected next week.