5 injured in violent Sunday morning

Monday, October 30, 2006

5 injured in violent Sunday morning
Police arrest 1, seek others in separate attacks

Four people were shot and one person was stabbed early Sunday in what police called an "insane" rash of violence.

"It was an unbelievable night," Seattle police spokesman Jeff Kappel said.

The first shooting was reported just before 1 a.m. after two men, at least, exchanged gunfire in an alley near the University of Washington's Greek Row. A man and woman were hit as they stepped outside to smoke a cigarette, Kappel said.

The victims do not appear to know the shooters, he said. "They appear to be innocent bystanders."

The man, in his 20s, was shot in the groin. The woman, also in her 20s, was hit in the shoulder. Both were taken to Harborview Medical Center and were expected to survive, Kappel said.

Police arrested one suspect and were searching for several more. Investigators found a dozen shell casings from two weapons in the alley at 19th Avenue Northeast and Northeast 50th Street, Kappel said.

Several people ran as police arrived, but officers could hear gunfire continuing in the distance, Kappel said.

Students who live near the shooting say they heard loud pops early Sunday morning but didn't think it was gunfire.

They said the neighborhood has its share of rowdy parties but that it does not have a crime problem.

Police spent the night jumping between several critical calls, including a drive-by shooting about 90 minutes later outside Tiki Bob's Cantina, 166 S. King St. Two men on the sidewalk in Pioneer Square were hit by gunshots fired from a gray Mercedes-Benz. The car sped away, and no one has been arrested, Kappel said.

Then, about 2:20 a.m., a man was stabbed in the 2700 block of East Union Street. Police were seeking a suspect, who they think knew the victim, Kappel said.

All three victims were taken to the hospital, but their conditions were unknown.

Police also handled numerous automobile crashes during the night, many of which were the result of drunken driving, Kappel said.

"It's Halloween, and you have an extra hour of drinking. It's not a good combination," he said.

More headlines and info from Central Area, Pioneer Square, University District.

P-I reporter Gregory Roberts contributed to this report. P-I reporter Scott Gutierrez can be reached at 206-448-8334 or scottgutierrez@seattlepi.com.

Add P-I Local headlines to