Police enter cop-free zone in Seattle after shooting kills one, injures another

[Jose Garcia]

Source: Washington Post

Seattle Police entered a police-free zone occupied by protesters to investigate a shooting that killed a 19-year-old man and injured another early Saturday morning, authorities confirmed.

Officers initially had trouble getting to the scene because they “were met by a violent crowd that prevented officers safe access to the victims,” according to a statement by the Seattle Police Department. The shooting took place in “Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone” — or CHAZ — a zone near downtown Seattle set aside for protesters against police brutality.

The police officers’ arrival into the zone, filmed by people occupying it, didn’t appear to show violence. Police later learned the victims were taken to Harborview Medical Center, a nearby trauma unit.

At about 3 a.m., two men with gunshot wounds were driven to the University of Washington-affiliated hospital in private vehicles, hospital spokeswoman Susan Gregg confirmed to The Washington Post. The 19-year-old died shortly after arrival while the other man is in critical condition in the intensive care unit, Gregg said.

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/06/20/chop-shooting-seattle/?outputType=amp

[Igel]

3. We can only hope, but it would be a miracle.

. The 19-year-old died shortly after arrival while the other man is in critical condition in the intensive care unit, Gregg said.

[EllieBC]

5. Holy balls I didn't even read the headline right!

Damn I’m tired tonight.

[ChazII]

2. Some stories

are saying it was an African American that was killed.

[Polybius]

6. This is horrible

I'd like to know more details. Regardless though, RIP.

[Steelrolled]

7. CHAZ sounds like an interesting experiment

[OnlinePoker]

8. This post from Reddit has the leader begging first responders to come in

They wouldn't without police escort. I guess that's why they had to be taken to hospital in private vehicles.

https://www.reddit.com/r/PublicFreakout/comments/hd0qm5/raz_simone_one_of_the_leaders_of_the_autonomous/

[EllieBC]

10. That's standard protocol.

First responders need to know the area is clear of threats.

[GulfCoast66]

9. I know this won't be popular here. But this needs to be shut down.

A man get killed. Not by cops. But by a criminal and law enforcement can’t get there?

This does nothing to help us and I sure as hell would not want those folks taking over my neighborhood.

I’ve seen the videos. All peaceful and hippy dippy. Until some guy gets killed. And they obviously have guns are are willing to shoot others.

I guarantee you not one in 100 DU readers, no matter what you say here would want your home in that area. Need emergency services? You’re out of luck. Can’t come on without permission.

Everyone reading this knows it will not end well. Hope I’m wrong.

We need to admit the Anarchist who show up are not our friends. This is not BLM.

[EllieBC]

11. I agree. Regarding the part about

no one would want their home in the middle of it, there’s a lot of that here (and in general on social media). Everyone cheerleading fires and looters and anarchist utopias from the safety of their own homes far away.

[cayugafalls]

12. I hope this ends well.

The people who live and own property in the area had minimal say in the creation of this zone. People have moved in that are not residents of the area and they are controlling the streets and large sections of the public space.

I support the protest, but it appears that this is not a protest, it is a siege. People who live in the area and own homes have no recourse. Are they supposed to surrender their homes and safety? Is this a violation of the social contract?

Would we be calmly discussing a case of the government claiming eminent domain and taking over a neighborhood? Would we be calmly discussing the end of emergency services in an area? What about roaming bands of untrained people with guns? Isn't this exactly the kind of things we are trying to solve?

I am not slamming the effort, just trying to understand it. It seems counterproductive.

Help me understand.

[eilen]

13. I agree. I think the residents of the area need to tell

these people to GTFO yesterday.

The people who live there, who pay taxes, raising their kids there, that have businesses etc. need to contact the mayor and their legislators.

Enough is enough.

[Baclava]

14. So is "The Summer of Love" over? Just call it 'The Purge, Election Year'

[brooklynite]

15. The purpose of the marches was to change the policies of existing Government agencies...

It was not to create a new and autonomous social structure. When that became the goal in Seattle, the result was inevitable.