Man shot, killed on Capitol Hill

A man believed to be in his 20s died after he was shot in the chest Saturday outside the Baltic Room, a Capitol Hill nightclub, the Seattle police reported.

Officers responded to the 1200 block of Pine Street just before 1 a.m. and discovered the wounded man, police spokesman Jeff Kappel said. Investigators believe the man was 27.

Medics took him to Harborview Medical Center where he later died. Officers are investigating the case but they have limited information, he added.

Seattle Fire Department spokesman Lt. Harold Webb said medics received an initial call of several gunshots.

Police believe the shooter is a man who left the area after the violence. The shooting took place outside and on or near the sidewalk.

By late Saturday afternoon, two bouquets of flowers had been tied to a metal post in front of the club. One person who was in the area around the time of the violence recalled hearing at least five gunshots.

The person asked to remain anonymous because the gunman has not been caught. After the shots rang in the air, at least 50 people gathered outside the club, the person said.

Hours after the shooting, police detectives still had yellow safety tape up in the area. Some detectives searched bushes in the area.

While violence at some Seattle clubs and the stabbing death of a woman on New Year's Eve have many people concerned about neighborhood safety, a manager at a nearby store said he was not particularly concerned.

"There's police around here all the time," said Alex Pouliot, the 22-year-old manager for Your2Feet. "Recently, bicycle cops have patrolled this block. I've never felt threatened."

The Baltic Room is a popular neighborhood club, neighbors said. Outside the club on Friday night, many people drove by with their music turned up, one person said.