A suspect is in custody after a series of shootings left a half dozen people injured along parts of Interstate 5 in the Seattle and Tacoma areas of Washington state. Officials expressed outrage that people were randomly attacked while driving on a highway. One of the gunshot victims is fighting for their life, according to Capt. Ron Mead of the Washington State Patrol.
The suspected shooter was apprehended by law enforcement officers in Pierce County after they located a white Volvo matching the description. The suspect was compliant during the arrest and has been taken into custody. The suspect was evaluated at a hospital and then transferred to the King County jail, facing charges of first-degree assault.
Authorities have not disclosed the suspect's name and are continuing the investigation without speculating on the motive or mental state of the alleged assailant. The suspect's vehicle has been identified by victims in four of the six shootings that occurred on Interstate 5 northbound near Seattle and in the southbound lanes to the south of the city, including one in Pierce County.
Five people were hit by gunfire, and another person sustained abrasions from flying glass. Two women injured in separate shootings were taken to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle for treatment, with one in serious condition in intensive care and the other listed in serious condition. A 20-year-old victim was among those injured.
The shootings have raised concerns about safety on roadways, with officials emphasizing that such attacks create fear in the transportation system. The recent incidents follow a rise in gun-related crimes on roadways in King County, with a significant increase in reported incidents involving firearms.
While there have been references to previous freeway shootings, there is no current evidence linking the suspect to those incidents. The suspect was tracked to an apartment complex in Tacoma, where law enforcement officers apprehended them after disabling the vehicle using stop sticks.
During the arrest, the suspect cooperated with authorities and was taken into custody without resistance. Traffic on southbound Interstate 5 was briefly halted as troopers searched for evidence related to the shootings. The investigation into the shootings is ongoing as authorities work to ensure the safety of the community.
