Gunfire erupts near library; 2 men suffer injuries

A shooting just before noon Monday -- across the street from the Beacon Hill Public Library -- left two men with minor injuries.

KEY DEVELOPMENTS:

• Two men in 20s shot, suffered minor injuries
• Men treated at Harborview & released
• Window of Beacon Hill Public Library struck
• Nearby students were sheltered in place
• Assailants still at large

"I heard four or five gunshots," said Kari Schott, a neighbor who was in her apartment when the gun was fired. "I ran to my window and saw two gentlemen crawling through the bushes at the back of the bank parking lot."

She called 911 and continued watching the two men.

"And then they started walking through the parking lot,” said Schott. “They were looking at their legs. They were limping. So they clearly had been hit."

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Within moments, she said Seattle police had swarmed into the area, including the gang unit and detection dogs trained to find weapons and bullet casings.

According to eyewitnesses, the shots were fired by someone in a dark-colored, four-door sedan.

After the shooting, the assailant allegedly got back into the car and took off.

A middle aged woman sat in a patrol car, telling detectives she was with the two male victims when they were shot.

She wasn't hurt but she was so rattled, she, too, had to be taken to the hospital.

Soon after the shooting, the library closed for the day. And workers put up plywood over the bullet holes.

All of it troubles those who live, work and play in this community.

"Beacon Hill's normally a very quiet neighborhood like most people, that is," said Sam Sakura. "So having a lot of activity like this is kind of distressing."

Students at two schools, Beacon Hill and Kimball Elementary, were told to shelter in place.

But only the two men were hurt. Both men are in their 20s.

They were treated at Harborview Medical Center and released.

The assailants remain on the loose.

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Cox Media Group