Man in custody after ‘active shooting’ in West Seattle’s tiny hometown

SEATTLE — A man was taken into custody after an “active shooting” in a tiny village in West Seattle Thursday afternoon.

Seattle Police Detective Eric Munoz said officers responded to a report of multiple shots fired at the tiny native village in the 9700 block of Myers Way South around 12:40 a.m. Thursday.

In an email to KOMO News, a spokesperson for the Institute for Low Income Housing described the situation as an “active shooter” at its “Myers Place shelter.” According to LIHI’s website, the shelter is called Camp Second Chance, has 50 tiny housing units on site, and is “operated by LIHI in partnership with program participants through a self-directed model.”

Munoz said when officers arrived at the scene, officers were trying to get people to safety.

“Basically, people were running for their lives because it was an alleged active shooter,” Munoz told KOMO News at the scene.

Munoz said the man, in his 60s, began firing a gun out the window and through the door of his small home after a staff member gave him and his girlfriend new keys to another residence that may have been moved.

“For whatever reason, the subject became angry and agitated and began shooting through the door at this worker,” Munoz said, adding that the information provided was preliminary.

Responding officers determined probable cause for first-degree assault on the man and called a SWAT team to the scene as the man barricaded himself inside one of the tiny houses. A hostage negotiation team, crisis response team and mental health professionals were also called to the scene to assist in the incident, Munoz said.

Munoz said it’s not known at this time if the man’s girlfriend was initially inside the residence when shots were fired, but said she was outside with police and cooperating with authorities while “the operation was ongoing.” Munoz said the gun the man used likely belonged to his girlfriend.

Officials said there were some “difficulties” in negotiating with the man, but he eventually surrendered peacefully.

The man was taken into custody on a charge of first-degree assault. However, additional charges may be filed later.

There were no injuries as a result of the shooting.