A 68-year-old man using a wheelchair was seriously injured Thursday afternoon after being shot during a confrontation near Pier 55, one of Seattle’s most trafficked waterfront areas. The incident unfolded just after 4:30 p.m. along Alaskan Way, a corridor flanked by the Seattle Aquarium and the city’s ferry terminal, an area that, in recent months, has become a centerpiece of the city’s downtown revitalization.
According to police, the altercation began with a verbal dispute between the two men that escalated rapidly. Witnesses reported that the conflict intensified when the suspect allegedly took a personal item from the older man. In response, the victim, while still seated in his wheelchair, pulled out a knife and lunged toward the suspect. The other individual, reportedly armed, then fired a single shot, striking the man in the upper chest.
Emergency responders arrived within minutes. The victim was transported to Harborview Medical Center, where he remains in serious but stable condition, according to a hospital spokesperson. His identity has not been made public.
Police officers already patrolling the area on foot and by bicycle were able to detain the suspect at the scene without further incident. He has since been booked into King County Jail on suspicion of first-degree assault. Formal charges are pending review by the prosecutor’s office.
As of Friday morning, detectives were still reviewing surveillance footage from businesses in the area to piece together a clearer timeline of events. The names of those involved have not been released.
The shooting has unsettled a part of downtown that has recently become symbolic of the city’s effort to reimagine and reinvest in its public spaces. Alaskan Way has seen growing foot traffic, especially from tourists and families visiting the waterfront. The redevelopment effort, designed to transform the area into a pedestrian-friendly destination, has been central to Seattle’s long-term strategy for economic and cultural revival downtown.
