Seattle Police Hunt Suspects After Columbia City Backyard Gunfight

A bystander recorded a gunfight erupting in his backyard in Seattle's Columbia City neighborhood on Tuesday evening, capturing the chaos before police arrived on the scene.

The Seattle Police Department responded to reports of gunfire near South Oregon Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Way South at 6:08 p.m. The location sits close to the Rainier Vista Boys and Girls Club. Officers found a black SUV parked in a lot at the intersection. Two suspects approached the vehicle and began firing. Two occupants then exited the car and returned fire.

A resident filmed the exchange from behind a glass window. The video shows a man in a hooded sweatshirt running and jumping back and forth near a multi-sports field. He appears to be dodging incoming bullets while also firing back. The footage was sent to a local news outlet by the witness.

Police stated that no victims were located at the site. However, nearby property sustained damage during the exchange. Officers collected numerous spent shell casings and live ammunition rounds from the ground. The black SUV and the two suspects were not found by the time investigators completed their initial sweep.

The Seattle Police Department's Gun Violence Reduction Unit has been notified of the incident. The unit handles investigations into shootings and related crimes in the city. The case remains active as detectives review the video evidence and search for the individuals involved.

The incident occurred just after 6 p.m., a time when families are often near the youth club. The presence of live ammunition suggests the exchange was not a single burst of fire but a sustained engagement. The specific make and model of the SUV were not immediately released by the department.