SEATTLE, Wash. — The son of a 57-year-old Ravenna man who was gunned down while he walked to work says his father has no idea who shot him, or why.
The son of Victor Espinoza, asked not to be named or photographed. He wondered if he could be the gunman's next victim. "I have no idea if the person will go after me, because I don't know why they shot my father," he said.
Espinoza was shot three times by a man who approached him as Espinoza was walking to work as a master upholsterer. Espinoza and his son both work at the shop on 55th Ave NE.
When Espinoza's son saw his father gunned down, he ran into the street to his bleeding father, and asked him who shot him.
"He said 'pistola, pistola' twice and that was it," said Espinoza's son.
One of the bullets tore through Espinoza's femoral artery, according to his son.
Officers are searching for the gunman, who left in a dark sedan driven by another man. Police described them as African Americans in their late teens or early 20s. Police said they left northbound on 27th Avenue Northeast.
Dylan Clements saw the shooting from down the street.
"I looked up after the first gunshot, and saw a guy walking across the street, holding a gun and letting it off. The victim tried to run away, got about 10 feet and collapsed on the sidewalk," Clements said.
Clements and co-workers called 911.
"A bunch of people were actually pretty brave. They ran to the victim and helped him as the guy was running off," he said.
Several witnesses told KIRO 7 they heard five gunshots.
Witness Eric Paulus, who is also a friend of Espinoza, said Espinoza lives and works nearby.
"I think Victor's going to live. I hope he lives. He's a great guy," Paulus said.
Medics transported Espinoza, who is in critical condition, to Harborview Medical Center.
Police describe his injuries as life-threatening and serious enough to call for the homicide unit to investigate.
"This wasn't a robbery, this was a straight out attack," said Seattle Police Sgt. Sean Whitcomb.
"A man gets out of the car, confronts the other individual – the victim – shoots him several times, gets back in the car and takes off," Whitcomb said.
Homicide detectives were are at the scene searching for the weapon in case it was dumped.
Three Seattle elementary schools were put on "shelter in place" mode for about an hour. That's where all classroom doors were locked.
School is now back to normal.
Anyone with information about the shooting or the suspects is asked to call the Seattle police tip line at 206-233-5000.