News

Police: Man shot in hand during Rainier Valley robbery

SEATTLE — A 30-year-old man was shot in the hand Sunday morning in the Rainier Valley and the shooter remains at large, said police.

The shooting happened near the 4600 block of South Henderson Street before 11 a.m.

According to police, a man walked into a nail salon with his friend to break a $100 bill. When they left the salon, they walked into an alley north of the 4500 block of South Henderson Street.

A group of three unknown men approached the two and asked the man if he had change for a $100 bill.

The five men walked to a stairwell to exchange the money.

Police said a man from the group of three pulled out a handgun and demanded money from the man in the other group, but the man got a hold of the gun and it discharged, hitting the victim in the right hand.

The shooter grabbed the victim’s backpack, containing money, and ran from the scene with the two other men in his group. They ran off westbound.

The victim’s friend ran southbound from the scene.

Medics rushed to the scene and took the man to Harborview Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries.

Police described the shooter as a black man, medium-skinned, 5-feet 5-inches tall, thin build, wearing a black-hooded sweatshirt, black North Face jacket and carrying the victim’s large black backpack. He remains at large.

A description of the two other men in the group was not provided.

Seattle police will continue to investigate the incident.