A shooting near Seattle’s bustling waterfront promenade on Thursday afternoon left a 68-year-old man hospitalized and cast a shadow over one of the city’s most active visitor corridors. The altercation, which took place just after 4 p.m. near the Argosy Cruises dock, unfolded in front of dozens of bystanders and raised renewed concerns about safety in a part of town that’s become a focal point of recent revitalization efforts.
Seattle police say the shooting stemmed from a personal dispute between two men, one of whom allegedly confronted the other over a military insignia. According to investigators, the suspect accused the victim—who uses a wheelchair—of “stolen valor” after allegedly taking a military patch from him. Witnesses say a confrontation escalated quickly, with the victim brandishing a knife before being shot in the chest.
The man was rushed to Harborview Medical Center and is currently listed in serious but stable condition. Police arrested the suspect at the scene, and he appeared before a judge on Friday. While he has not yet been formally charged, his defense attorney told the court that the shooting was an act of self-defense in response to the knife being drawn.
Prosecutors, however, pushed back on that assertion. “If a defendant provokes an altercation, you lose the right to self-defense,” said Casey McNerthney, spokesperson for the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.
At a ribbon-cutting ceremony nearby on Friday for the opening of a new waterfront bike lane, Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell addressed the incident. “This was a targeted incident between two individuals,” Harrell said. “We’re keeping law enforcement present down here, and I want the public to know that safety remains a top priority.” The mayor added that the city is currently removing roughly five illegal firearms a day from circulation, totaling over 2,000 guns taken off Seattle streets annually.
Local workers who know the victim say he was a familiar face along the waterfront, often playing music and bringing energy to the area. “He’s a regular,” said Kelsey Reidt, who works nearby. “He’s usually out here with his music. It’s tragic all around. We’ve all been working hard to make this area feel vibrant and safe.”
For a city that has poured resources into reshaping its waterfront into a hub for recreation, tourism, and economic activity, the shooting is a painful reminder of how isolated acts of violence can disrupt community trust. Though police believe the incident was not random, its proximity to family-friendly attractions has rattled businesses and visitors alike.
As the investigation continues, city officials say they will keep visible patrols in place and are urging residents to remain calm but vigilant. The waterfront, they stress, remains open—and efforts to maintain its transformation will continue even as the city confronts the realities of public safety head-on.
