One man died and another was seriously injured in a shooting Monday morning in the Seattle Capitol Organized Protest Zone, or CHOP, an area of the city occupied by protesters protesting against police brutality and racism, according to the reports.
One victim was rushed to Harborview Medical Center in a private car shortly after 3 a.m., while the second was taken by ambulance a few minutes later, hospital spokeswoman Susan Gregg told KOMO News.
President Trump criticized Seattle’s “looters, agitators, anarchists, and ‘protesters” on Twitter on Monday, saying that” they now refuse to leave the ‘CHOP’ zone. “
He added: “They have ZERO respect for the government, or the mayor of Seattle or the governor of the state of Washington! It’s not right!”
Gunshots that erupted Monday near 12th Avenue and Pike Street marked the fourth shooting in the area where the Seattle Police East Precinct headquarters is located.
Police have not provided further details about what led to the shooting and have not mentioned any suspects.
Protesters calling for racial justice and an end to police brutality have occupied several blocks around the police station, which the police abandoned, and Cal Anderson Park for about two weeks.
“I am aware of three shootings and one murder as a result of a shooting in the area,” Police Chief Carmen Best told CNN on Sunday before the latest shooting occurred.
“We have also had a few assaults, sexual assaults, a robbery and a couple of arsons. So the level of violence that is starting in that area certainly increased over time and is no longer a block party. It is a real public security problem, “he added.
On June 20, a 19-year-old protester was shot dead in the area near Cal Anderson Park.
Last week, Trump threatened to intervene if authorities failed to crack down on protesters.
“They don’t do something with Seattle, let’s do that. We’re going to go in there, ”the president told Fox News presenter Sean Hannity at a town hall. “What is happening is taking over American cities. In all cases, his Democrats. They are run by Democrats, in all cases. “
City officials said the barriers at CHOP would be dismantled on Sunday, but remained there until Monday morning, KING 5 reported.
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