2 dead, 3 wounded in Seattle homeless camp shooting

Two people died in the shooting, and three more were critically wounded in a homeless area referred to as “the jungle”. One person was declared deceased at the scene and four were sent to Harborview Medical Center, where another man died.

The shooting happened at around the same time Seattle Mayor Ed Murray finished delivering a special address on homelessness at Mary’s Place Family Center, about two miles north of the encampment.

Police say they are searching for an active shooter. Recent efforts have seen police make sweeps through areas popular with homeless campers, and attention has recently fallen on car-dwellers who’ve drawn complaints in several North Seattle neighborhoods. The names of those killed and wounded were not released. The victims suffered gunshot wounds to the chest, abdomen and back, police said. Further details and the condition on the other three, who were shot, was not immediately available, the Seattle Times reported.

The King County Medical Examiner’s Office has identified the two people killed Tuesday night at a homeless encampment in Seattle.

She says the male victim is undergoing another surgery today and his condition remains serious.

The encampment has a history of violence, including two fatal shootings in 2009, according to KIRO.

O’Toole said the Police Department has brought in teams from around the city to conduct welfare checks on people living in other encampments near The Jungle to reassure them and provide security.

One month later, Warren J. Bothwell’s death marked the second homicide for the year at The Jungle. Police are urging all to stay clear of the area until there is more evidence and possibly an arrest.