VIDEO: Unruly crowd forces back Seattle Police at illegal street race, 4 people later shot
4 hospitalized after Capitol Hill shooting
Four people were injured, one critically, after a shooting broke out at an illegal street racing event in Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood early Sunday morning.
SEATTLE - New dashcam footage released by Seattle Police shows an unruly crowd forcing a patrol car back at an illegal street racing event. Four people were shot there hours later, one of them critically injured.
The street takeover happened in Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood early Sunday morning.
According to Seattle Police Department, this all happened during an illegal street racing event. SPD had several blocks closed off around Broadway and Pike for investigation, just a couple blocks away from where Capitol Block Party's taking place this weekend.
According to SPD, four people were injured, one of which is in critical condition.
"They had started doing, you know, where they do donuts around people," said security guard Herman Esau, who was working nearby. "Large crowd congregates and they start doing dangerous stuff in the middle of the street."
Police said at about 1:30 a.m., calls came into 911 for reckless driving and a large group of people. SPD said they did respond and tried to stop it, but an unruly crowd of onlookers forced them to back away from the area.
Police dashcam video captures unruly crowd at Capitol Hill illegal street racing event
Seattle Police were called to break up a street takeover in Capitol Hill early Sunday morning, but say an unruly crowd forced them to back away until several people were shot.
At about 4 a.m., SPD said officers heard gunshots. Police found two victims at the intersection of Broadway and Pike.
"The people that were in the group started throwing our barricades at them and causing damage to their police vehicle, so they withdrew." Esau said.
There was one man in his late 20s who suffered gunshot wounds but is stable. SPD said there was also a woman in her 20s or 30s who suffered life-threatening injuries. The third victim is another woman, FOX 13 does not know the extent of her injuries. SPD said she took herself to Harborview Medical Center. The fourth victim is a man who has non-life-threatening injuries.
FOX 13 News talked to one man, Poe, near the scene who said he was in the area at the time. He told FOX 13 he didn't quite see the shooting take place, but he did see and hear the commotion happening.
"People were out having a good time. And that was it. Next thing you know -- thought it was fireworks, but it was gunshots," Poe said.
SPD said they heard more gunshots on-scene. Officers said one man told them he was shot at around the 1400-block of Harvard Avenue. Police said they found shell casings, however, did not find a suspect.
Police have no information as to a suspect right now, nor have they shared details regarding the identities of the four victims.
SPD claims they had reduced staffing levels Saturday, with "higher than normal" call outs for sick or personal time. Adding they were "stretched thin" by the multiple large events in town, including the Bite of Seattle, Mariners game and Taylor Swift concert.
Anyone with information is asked to call the SPD Violent Crimes Tip Line at (206) 233-5000.