Police investigating 2nd officer-involved shooting in 2 days

SEATTLE — Seattle police are investigating a second officer-involved shooting in two days after police shot a man in Seattle’s SoDo neighborhood.

Police were called to a bus stop at First Avenue South and South Hanford Street shortly before 10 p.m. Monday after receiving reports that a man was waving around a gun.

When the man refused orders from police to drop his weapon, a Seattle police officer pulled out a rifle and fired, hitting the man in the chest.

The suspect, identified only as a 35-year-old man, was taken to Harborview Medical Center with life-threatening injuries. No officers were hurt.

A witness said he heard a female officer trying to talk the man into putting the gun down.

“She yelled at him. She commanded to him -- I don't know if she said, ‘Drop your weapon.’ We couldn't really hear and then it was three shots -- bam bam bam,” said witness Rachid Mirdass.

Seattle police said a male officer fired at least once.

Observing the investigation was a representative from the Office of Professional Accountability, which is a part of the new use of force policy that was adopted Jan. 1.

A number of OPA representatives will be observing the investigation as it moves forward, which is now part of the standard procedure for officer-involved shootings.

Another officer-involved shooting happened early Sunday in Belltown.  The man shot in that incident has non-life-threatening injuries.

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