A 68-year-old man using a wheelchair was hospitalized in serious condition Thursday afternoon after being shot in the chest during a confrontation on the Seattle waterfront, prompting a swift police response in one of the city’s most visited corridors.
The incident unfolded just after 4:30 p.m. near Alaskan Way and Pier 55, a busy pedestrian area adjacent to the Seattle Aquarium and steps from the Seattle Ferry Terminal. According to police, the altercation began with a verbal dispute between the two men, escalating quickly into physical violence.
Witnesses told investigators the situation turned volatile after the suspect allegedly took a personal item belonging to the victim. In response, the man in the wheelchair brandished a knife and lunged at the suspect while still seated. The other individual, reportedly armed, then fired a shot, striking the man in the upper chest.
Emergency responders arrived within minutes and transported the victim to Harborview Medical Center, where he remains in serious but stable condition, according to a hospital spokesperson familiar with the case.
Seattle police officers on foot and bicycle patrols nearby detained the suspect at the scene without further incident. He was later booked into King County Jail on suspicion of first-degree assault, though formal charges are still pending review by the prosecutor’s office.
The names of those involved have not been publicly released, and detectives are continuing to review surveillance footage from nearby businesses as part of the investigation.
Thursday’s shooting comes as city officials and local stakeholders work to reassure residents and visitors about safety downtown, particularly along Alaskan Way—a revitalized stretch of waterfront that has seen increased tourism and foot traffic following redevelopment efforts.
