A tense standoff in a quiet Seattle neighborhood ended Friday morning when a man who had fired at responding officers was discovered dead inside an apartment.
According to KOMO News, a 53-year-old man with a violent criminal background shot his girlfriend and opened fire on police officers early Friday, sparking a prolonged standoff in Madison Park that ultimately ended with the man's death under still-unclear circumstances.
The incident unfolded around 4:51 a.m. on June 20 in the 3200 block of East Madison Street, near the Washington Park Arboretum. Officers had responded to a call regarding domestic violence. When they arrived, a woman ran out of the building with a gunshot wound to her lower back and collapsed into the arms of officers. She was taken to the hospital for treatment.
Moments later, the man emerged from the residence and began shooting at the officers on the scene. One officer returned fire. The suspect then retreated into the apartment, initiating a standoff that lasted several hours.
Police Deploy SWAT and Technology Amid Danger
Seattle police brought in additional resources, including SWAT teams, hostage negotiators, and a drone to safely monitor the suspect. Interim Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes confirmed that the man, who had a violent criminal past, “fired his weapon at that particular drone.” During the standoff, officers observed the man moving inside the apartment while throwing furniture and acting erratically. Chief Barnes said, “We know that he was very upset,” and added that the department made multiple efforts to communicate with him in hopes of resolving the situation peacefully.
After roughly an hour of no contact with the suspect, law enforcement used a robot to remove barricades within the apartment. Officers then breached the residence using what Barnes described as an "explosive device."
Unclear Cause of Death Adds to the Complexity
Once inside, authorities found the man unresponsive in a bedroom area. It remains unknown whether he died as a result of an officer’s return fire earlier in the incident or from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. "It is not known if the man was killed when an officer returned gunfire or if he died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound,” Chief Barnes said.
The suspect had been convicted of a double homicide in Seattle during the 1990s and was released from prison in 2017. Barnes described him as having a “very violent past.” The apartment complex and surrounding area were placed under shelter-in-place orders while the situation unfolded. Police urged neighbors through loudspeakers to remain indoors for their safety.
Multiple Agencies Respond to Secure the Neighborhood
The law enforcement response was significant, involving at least a dozen police vehicles, four specialized SWAT trucks, fire department units, and police dogs. Officials worked to clear the area and ensure the safety of nearby residents throughout the ordeal.
A resident in the vicinity reported hearing between 12 and 15 gunshots, describing the sound as coming in two or three bursts. This aligns with the sequence of events described by both police and witnesses during the response. The scene was cordoned off for several hours while investigators examined the apartment and interviewed neighbors and possible witnesses. Authorities have not yet released the identity of the deceased suspect.
Incident Marks Start of Violent Day in Seattle
Friday’s standoff marked only the beginning of a violent morning, according to Chief Barnes. Later that same day, police responded to another situation in the Rainier Beach area of Seattle involving a separate suspect who also fired at officers.
Though no police officers were injured in either incident, the events prompted renewed concerns about officer and community safety. “It was a violent morning in Seattle,” Barnes stated during a briefing. Investigators are continuing to review footage from body cameras, the drone, and the robot deployed inside the residence. Autopsy results are also pending to determine the exact cause of the man's death.
City Officials Reflect on Resources and Safety
City officials did not comment Friday on whether additional resources would be directed toward domestic violence prevention or mental health interventions following incidents like this one. However, the scale of the response indicated the city’s preparedness in responding to high-risk situations.
The girlfriend who was shot is currently hospitalized, though authorities have not provided an update on her condition. She has not been publicly identified, and police have not said whether she had previously reported threats or violence from the suspect. The office of the Interim Chief reiterated that the investigation will remain ongoing for some time, as investigators work to determine a full timeline and understand all the factors leading up to the confrontation.
