Man hurt in Southcenter shooting; four held

Tukwila police detained four people after a man was shot Wednesday night during an altercation outside the Westfield Mall at Southcenter.

The man was rushed to Harborview Medical Center about 8:15 p.m. with nonlife-threatening wounds, police spokesman Mike Murphy said.

He said two groups of men were arguing before the shooting broke out on the north side of the mall. The victim was shot on an outdoor walkway, where bullets also struck a parked car and several windows of a department store.

"It was not random," Murphy said. "These were two groups who were having an altercation."

After the shooting, the mall went into lockdown, with many customers taking cover and hiding inside, even though the shooting occurred outside. Two hours later, police were still leading groups of shoppers out of the mall.

Murphy said one of those detained was found inside the mall after the shooting.

A car sped from the scene, followed by two off-duty officers who'd been shopping when shots rang out, Murphy said. They followed the fleeing vehicle onto northbound Interstate 5, where on-duty units took over the pursuit.

The car was stopped near the Madison Street exit in Seattle. Murphy said investigators believe the occupants were involved in the shooting, but police were still trying to determine what role they played.

The shooting came weeks after the Feb. 22 shooting outside Northgate Mall in Seattle. A 15-year-old boy was wounded in that episode.

On Friday, police arrested a 17-year-old boy in connection with the Northgate shooting.