By Staff
Northwest Asian Weekly
A deadly shooting occurred at a homeless encampment at Airport Way and South Atlantic Street in a greenbelt adjacent to the I-5 freeway, known as The Jungle, on Tuesday night, Jan. 26, around 7:15 p.m., according to the Seattle Police Department (SPD).
One of the victims, James Q. Tran, 33, was found dead at the scene. Other victims were taken to Harborview Medical Center. Jennine L. Brooks died at the hospital. The three remaining victims, who are still unidentified at the time of this report, are suffering from gunshot wounds and were in intensive care as of Wednesday morning.
SPD Chief Kathleen O’Toole said SPD have leads they are pursuing, and there are two persons of interest in the shooting they are seeking out. They believe the shootings were very targeted and that people at other homeless camps do not need to fear a similar incident.
At a press conference at the scene of the shooting on Tuesday night, Seattle Mayor Ed Murray said he issued an emergency order to expedite the creation of two safety zones, parking lots in Ballard and one in South Seattle, for homeless people living in their RVs or cars.
Murray said The Jungle “has been unmanageable and out of control for almost two decades.” (end)
Staff can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.