SEATTLE — Two women were shot the night of the Fourth of July amid fireworks in White Center.
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The shooting occurred Monday, just before 11:30 p.m., near South 112th Street and 1st Avenue South.
"There were a lot of explosions around. I couldn't tell if it was shooting or fireworks going off, hitting people," said Jason Ouch, who was at the vacant lot where they were setting off fireworks Monday night.
Fireworks are legal in White Center.
A 46-year-old woman from Seattle was shot in the foot; a 24-year-old pregnant woman from Burien was shot in the back, police said.
Both women are expected to survive.
The pregnant woman was in serious condition in the intensive care unit on Tuesday at Harborview Medical Center. Investigators said the unborn baby was expected to be okay. The woman shot in the foot was treated at Highline Hospital and released.
Police say the women were with friends, shooting off fireworks.
“There was chaos," said King County sheriff’s Sgt Cindi West. "There were fireworks going off. Most of the people didn’t even realize our two victims were struck until after they yelled for help.”
The shooting may have been prompted by an altercation with a motorist, police said. Witnesses said a member of the group the women were with confronted individuals in a white car that had been driving erratically back and forth in the area.
The women were shot during the altercation, but police say it unknown whether or not the shots were fired by occupants of the car.
Police say the vehicle involved in the altercation was described as a white, older-model sedan occupied by two women. At this point, investigators don’t know if those two women are suspects or witnesses.
Detectives are asking anyone with information to call the King County Sheriff's Office at (206) 296-3311. They are also asking for anyone who was there at the time of the shooting who took photos or video to share them with the King County Sheriff’s Office.