Police Probe Five Consecutive Shootings on Washington Highway

Authorities are investigating a series of five shootings that occurred on Monday night along Interstate 5 in Washington State. The Washington State Patrol has confirmed that several individuals sustained injuries during these incidents, although it has not yet been determined if the shootings are related. A suspect has been arrested, but details on whether this individual is connected to all five shootings are still unclear.

The situation prompted a temporary closure of I-5 while police gathered evidence, but the highway has since reopened, and officials state that it will not impact the morning commute.

Trooper Rick Johnson, the public information officer for King County’s Washington State Patrol District 2, reported the first incident at approximately 9:27 p.m. local time. This shooting took place on the northbound side of I-5 at 320th, injuring one passenger.

Fifteen minutes later, law enforcement received another report of a shooting on northbound I-5 at Martin Luther King Jr. Way (MLK). Fortunately, there were no injuries in this case, although a vehicle did suffer damage.

Shortly after, a third shooting took place at the northbound I-5 at I-90 interchange. In this incident, one passenger was injured, with the Seattle Fire Department indicating that their crews treated a 20-year-old woman who was reported to be in critical condition.

The series of violent events continued with a fourth and fifth shooting. One occurred on the southbound I-5 near State Route 18, while the other took place near 54th Street in Pierce County. Both of these incidents resulted in injuries to two additional individuals. Police officers were able to connect the suspect’s vehicle from these later shootings back to the first shooting that occurred on the northbound side at 320th.

Authorities eventually identified and arrested a suspect in the Tacoma area. The Pierce County Sheriff’s Department, along with Fircrest Police Department, played key roles in apprehending the suspect after tracking the vehicle involved.

As the investigation continues, no further injuries have been reported as of now. Authorities indicated they would release additional information about the case later on Tuesday morning, as they work to piece together the events of the night.

This sudden wave of violence on one of Washington’s major freeways has raised alarm and left many unanswered questions regarding safety and the nature of these incidents. The community is eagerly awaiting further details from police as the investigation unfolds.

Source: ABC News