Man Killed In Pickaxe Attack Near Central District

Seattle police have arrested one man following a fatal pickaxe attack near the Central District this morning.

At about 10:30am, police received a report that one man had been hit in the head with a pickaxe at 14th and Union.

The Seattle Fire Department tells us the man died at the scene.

Tom Fucoloro is at the scene and will have more info soon.

More updates are also available at Seattlecrime.com.

Shots fired near Pratt Park – Updated

Seattle police have surrounded an apartment building at 20th and Yesler after a man fired off shots from an apartment balcony around 8:30am.

Seattlecrime.com is updating as this develops.

Update:

Seattle Crime says a man is in custody and things should be winding down soon:

Update @ 9:29- Seattle police are working with a crack negotiator—the man’s mother—who is on the phone with the man, trying to coax him out of his apartment.

Update @ 9:35- Police believe there may be 3 or 4 other people inside the apartment with the man.

Update @ 9:36- Police have one person in custody and are trying to get three more people out of the apartment.

Update @ 9:42- Sounds like everyone is safely out of the unit.

Update x2: SPD has released new details on this morning’s mayhem: 25 year old man arrested, stolen 9mm handgun recovered from apartment.

On September 2, shortly before 8:30 AM, East Precinct officers responded to a report of shots fired from an apartment balcony in the 2000 Block of East Yesler Way.  Officers nearby heard the multiple shots.  911 received numerous calls on the shots fired.  The initial report stated that a black male wearing a dark colored sweatshirt came out of the apartment onto a small balcony and fired a handgun numerous times before returning back inside the apartment.  Witnesses reported seeing the man do this twice.  Officers arrived quickly and surrounded the apartment.  There were also reports of the suspect possibly leaving the building and walking down the street and heading to nearby Pratt Park, so officers had to check those areas as well.  Officers were able to confirm that the suspect was still inside the apartment.  SWAT officers responded to the scene and made contact with the suspect inside the apartment.  SWAT was able to convince the suspect and three other occupants (a male and two females) to come out of the apartment where they were taken into custody.  SWAT then cleared the apartment and announced that no one else was inside.  Officers then were able to go back inside and continue their investigation.  During the course of the investigation officers located several 9mm shell casings and a stolen 9mm handgun was recovered from inside the apartment.  Witnesses were able to identify the suspect based on his clothing.  The suspect, a 25 year old male resident of the apartment, was later booked into the King County Jail for Department of Corrections violations, Reckless Endangerment, and Possession of Stolen Property.     The other suspects were interviewed and released from the precinct.  There were no injuries and it does not appear that any property was damaged.