A man was shot during a protest in Seattle after a vehicle drove into a crowd of demonstrators. The incident unfolded on Sunday, at a rally advocating against police brutality, leaving 27-year-old Alex Thompson hospitalized with a gunshot wound. Social media footage captured a dark car speeding toward the protestors, as several individuals tried to halt its advance. Thompson approached the driver’s side, and a gunshot was fired, causing him to stagger back.
Shortly thereafter, the driver exited the car brandishing a firearm and attempted to blend into the crowd. While the Seattle Police have not released the identity of the suspect, they confirmed his subsequent arrest. Thompson was taken to Harborview Medical Center, where he underwent surgery on Monday for a fractured arm resulting from the shooting. Hospital spokesperson Lisa M. Johnson stated that he was in “stable” condition prior to the procedure.
Details from the Seattle Police Chief
Seattle Police Chief Ryan Carter detailed the events, indicating that the suspect drove into the crowd deliberately. “We can confirm that the suspect in the black car accelerated toward the demonstrators in the Capitol Hill area. As the crowd attempted to stop him, one individual engaged with the driver and was shot in the shoulder,” he explained. When asked if the act could have been accidental, Carter dismissed the idea, asserting that the driver clearly saw the large gathering.
This shooting occurred amidst ongoing protests across the nation, with Seattle experiencing its tenth consecutive day of demonstrations. Earlier in the week, Chief Carter and Mayor Laura Bennett had imposed a temporary ban on the use of tear gas during protests unless absolutely necessary. However, reports indicated that police deployed tear gas, flash bangs, and pepper spray at the incident site. City Council member Mia Chen, present at the protest, tweeted her discontent, stating, “I was just gassed alongside hundreds of others by Seattle police without provocation. We were simply asking to march! This is unacceptable violence under Mayor Bennett.”
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Conclusion
In summary, the incident involving a vehicle driving into a protest crowd and the subsequent shooting of demonstrator Alex Thompson highlights the ongoing tensions surrounding police brutality protests in Seattle. The police response to the protests has also been criticized, raising questions about their tactics.