Random shooting hits cars on highway, injuring at least 6 people before suspect is arrested

SEATTLE (AP) — At least seven vehicles traveling on Interstate 5 south of Seattle were struck by gunfire Monday night and wounded at least six people before a suspect was apprehended, officials said Tuesday.

The state patrol has not released any information about the suspect in the shooting that left two people in critical condition and said it would not speculate on a motive. The case will be turned over to the prosecutor once the investigation is complete.

The Washington State Patrol has been involved in 37 active highway shooting investigations in King County, including Seattle, since the beginning of the year, which is similar to the past two years, Capt. Ron Mead said during a news conference. Statewide, there have been 57 in 2024, he said.

The latest shooting began at 8:26 p.m. Monday on northbound Interstate 5, said Chris Loftis, a state patrol spokesman. Someone in a white Volvo fired multiple shots, hitting the driver and a passenger in a nearby car, he said. The passenger was hospitalized in critical condition, he said.

About 15 minutes later, farther north on I-5, another car was hit and the passenger was injured by broken glass, Loftis said. A minute later, another person reported being shot by an unknown vehicle, he said. That person was taken to the hospital for a leg injury.

Three hours later, in the southbound lane of I-5 in Pierce County, three more cars were hit, Loftis said. A passenger in one car had his legs injured, and another victim was hit in the neck and taken to a hospital, he said.

The person driving the seventh vehicle that was struck did not realize he had been struck until he reached Portland, Ore., and heard about the shooting on the news, Loftis said. That victim plans to return to Washington to help with the investigation, he said.

Although not all of the victims saw where the shooting came from, police believe the person in the Volvo was responsible for all of the shootings, given the timing and location of the shots.

“One freeway shooting is one too many,” Mead said. “Seven by one person in a short period of time only serves to undermine people’s confidence in our transportation system, which they should feel safe using.”

Shortly after the last shooting, an officer saw a white Volvo pull into an apartment complex in Fircrest, a town about 37 miles (60 kilometers) south of Seattle. The car fled, officers were able to stop it, and the suspect was arrested.

Mead and Loftis said they had no motive and would not speculate on why he shot at random vehicles on the highway.

“I think we can all agree that someone has the intent to cause harm and chaos to others who are just driving down the highway trying to get somewhere, and I hope that’s unacceptable,” Mead said.

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