An independent investigation has commenced into a fatal officer-involved shooting that occurred near the Othello light rail station Tuesday afternoon, leaving one man dead and a bystander with minor injuries from shattered glass.
Officers responded to the area around 1:30 p.m. Tuesday following reports of a shirtless man waving a firearm. Police ultimately shot and killed the individual after he advanced toward officers, according to authorities.
Multiple witnesses in the area estimated hearing upwards of 30 gunshots during the incident. Several rounds struck a nearby apartment building, shattering glass that injured a bystander who was inside at the time.
Damage from dozens of rounds fired by Seattle police was visible on multiple shattered windows and bullet holes scattered around the intersection of Martin Luther King Jr. Way and Othello Street, an area typically busy with commuters from the nearby light rail station, businesses, apartments, and a school.
Cindy Le was behind the counter of her bakery when she heard the gunfire, initially mistaking it for fireworks.
“We saw the guy with the gun, but he was already down, so he was shot, and then not too long the police came all around, so I think between 8 cars to 10 cars around,” Le said.
Though police stated officers attempted to negotiate with the man before the shooting, other witnesses said the incident unfolded quickly. Some neighborhood residents shared concerns that the dozens of rounds fired appeared excessive given the circumstances.
“Compliance is always best, de-escalation is always best, sometimes you don’t have the benefit of time when someone is carrying a firearm, and they’re walking towards you, or they’re walking towards innocent people,” Chief Shon Barnes stated Tuesday during a media briefing.
Barnes said the man remained holding the weapon after being shot, prompting officers to deploy a sponge round to dislodge the gun from his hands. The less-lethal projectile successfully removed the firearm, allowing officers to secure the scene.
Local community activist organizations are planning a protest in the area Wednesday night to demand accountability and answers about the shooting. The demonstration reflects ongoing tensions between law enforcement and communities regarding use of force incidents.
“We are demanding that the police identify or give us the name of the victim and identify the officers involved in the shooting,” said Jonathan Toledo of the Seattle Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression.
Several questions remain about whether the man may have been experiencing a mental health crisis or what his state of mind was during the confrontation with police.
“That will be done through the autopsy, sometimes we do toxicology to determine if there’s substance abuse, talking to family members to see if there’s a mental health breakdown,” Barnes explained. “We don’t know, so it’s not really my place to speculate on that now.”
Police confirmed they have recovered the weapon the deceased man was holding during the incident. The firearm will be processed as evidence and examined as part of the investigation into the shooting.
Barnes said the King County Force Investigation Team will conduct an independent investigation into the shooting. The review will include examination of body camera video, dashboard camera video, and footage from nearby businesses and bystanders who may have recorded the incident.
The Force Investigation Team comprises detectives from multiple jurisdictions who investigate uses of force by law enforcement officers. This independent structure aims to provide objective analysis separate from the agency whose officers were involved.
The investigation will examine the timeline of events from initial dispatch through the fatal shooting, including what de-escalation tactics officers employed, how quickly the situation developed, and whether the use of lethal force complied with department policies and legal standards.
The shooting occurred in a densely populated area with significant foot and vehicle traffic during the early afternoon. The proximity to the light rail station meant numerous commuters and transit riders were in the vicinity when gunfire erupted.
The nearby school referenced by Chief Barnes was placed under brief lockdown as a precautionary measure during the incident. The lockdown was lifted after police secured the area and determined no ongoing threat existed.
Witness accounts of approximately 30 gunshots suggest multiple officers discharged their weapons during the confrontation. Department policy typically requires officers to continue firing until a threat is neutralized, which can result in numerous rounds being fired in rapid succession.
The bystander injury from shattered glass highlights risks to uninvolved individuals during police shootings in urban environments. Bullets striking buildings create secondary hazards beyond direct lines of fire, endangering residents and workers in surrounding structures.
Community activists’ demands for officer and victim identification reflect broader conversations about transparency in officer-involved shootings. Police departments typically withhold officer names pending administrative reviews while victim identification follows notification of next of kin and medical examiner procedures.
The toxicology testing and mental health history review Barnes mentioned represent standard investigative procedures following fatal encounters. Understanding an individual’s mental state and potential substance influence helps reconstruct decision-making and behavior during critical incidents.
The sponge round deployment after lethal force had already been used demonstrates protocols requiring officers to secure weapons and render aid once immediate threats are neutralized. These projectiles cause pain and compliance without penetrating the body, though they can still inflict serious injury.
