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2 killed, 3 wounded in The Jungle homeless camp shooting

SEATTLE — Two people were killed and three were seriously wounded in a shooting at a notorious homeless camp known as "The Jungle."

As police believe the shootings likely involved people who knew each other, there is no evidence the victims were targeted, because they were homeless.

Two people were killed and three others were injured Tuesday night.

KEY DEVELOPMENTS:

  • Five victims: 2 dead, 3 wounded
  • 3 in serious condition
  • Shooting occurred in South Seattle-area homeless camp
  • Two people sought in connection with shooting

Five people were found shot at the camp near Airport Way South, Interstate 5 and Interstate 90 after police responded to a report of shots fired at 7:15 p.m.

Two men died from their injuries. As of Wednesday morning, two women and a man were in serious condition.

>>See photos from the scene here

Seattle police are looking for two persons of interest, but have not released their names.

Police say they have reason to believe the five victims were specifically targeted. The Seattle Times said a police source said the shooting was the result of a dispute between people who knew each other.

Police were called to the shooting just before Mayor Ed Murray began his live address regarding the state of emergency in Seattle for homelessness.

Last fall, Murray declared the civil state of emergency because of the growing number of homeless people in Seattle and King County.

"We believe this is a targeted shooting. We have persons of interest we're looking for." Chief O'Toole. pic.twitter.com/BHSQEz7IQ3

In response to the timing, at a conference Tuesday night, Murray said, "I can't help but wonder, did I act too late? ... Maybe I should have issued the state of emergency months earlier."

The reasons for #homelessness are complex and ending homelessness will not be solved easily or quickly. There are no simple solutions.

The shooting is the largest in Seattle since May 30, 2012 -- the Cafe Racer shooting.

In that incident, five people died and one person was injured. 

In an SPU shooting on June 5, 2014, one student was killed and two other students were injured.

About The Jungle

The  property, which is owned by the Seattle Department of Transportation, has been a notorious camp where people have lived for three decades.

The city tried to remove people who were living in the camp in 2012, but many stayed.

The Jungle has a history of violence.

In June of 2009, 55-year-old Bernardino Maceo-Toirac was shot multiple times in the wooded area.

On July 22, 2009, Warren J. Bothwell’s death was the second 2009 homicide for The Jungle.

Bothwell, 45, was found dead at the scene. Police got a call around 12:30 a.m. and found him with a chest wound.

No charges were filed in either of the 2009 homicide cases.

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