BREAKING NEWS:
Several people shot at Jewish Federation in Seattle
04:55 PM PDT on Friday, July 28, 2006
KING5.com
SEATTLE – At least three people have been shot at the Jewish Federation at 2031 Third Ave. in downtown Seattle. One person has been taken into custody.
Police have taken one person into custody but there may be more suspects in or around the building. Police have their weapons pointed toward the second floor of the building.
The three victims are believed to be women. One was reportedly shot in the abdomen and another was shot in the arm. They are being taken to Harborview Medical Center.
The incident began around 4 p.m. Part of Third Avenue and Second Avenue near Lenora have been closed to traffic. Police are urging people to stay away from the area.
At least three people were seen emerging from the building, which has two or three stories, escorted by police. It's not known if they were hostages.
Medics, escorted by police, have been taking other people from the building. Police have kept other medics from entering the building. It's not known how many people are left in the building or if more people are injured.
Rich Pruitt of the Seattle Police Department said" "Right now we have our SWAT team searching the building."
He said the building is being searched room by room and closet by closet for more people.
One shooter is confirmed and in custody, he said. As of yet he said there is no motive. It's not yet known if the incident is politically motivated.
One witness said the shooter shot a woman as she was walking into the building.
Another witness said she saw a woman sitting down, bleeding, outside the building.
A victim was initially unable to get to an ambulance because the situation was apparently too dangerous.
The Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle says on its Web site that its mission is to "ensure Jewish survival and enhance the quality of Jewish life locally, in Israel and worldwide."
This last Sunday, the Jewish Federation along with 40 other organizations rallied in support of Israel at Luther Burbank Park on Mercer Island.
More to come. |
