Suspect in custody in series of shootings along I-5 in Washington state, police say

(CNN) — A suspect is in custody after a series of shootings left people injured along a portion of Interstate 5 in the Seattle and Tacoma areas of Washington state, officials said.

The shootings follow a recent increase in gun-related incidents on roadways in King County, which includes Seattle, according to CNN affiliate KING5.

A white Volvo with California plates was identified in connection with the I-5 incidents overnight. The suspected shooter was taken into custody after police in Pierce County located the vehicle, King County Trooper Rick Johnson of the Washington State Patrol said.

The first I-5 shooting occurred in the northbound lanes at 320th Street, where a passenger in a vehicle was injured, Johnson said in a social media post.

The second shooting happened on “NB 5 near I-90 where another passenger was injured. The third and not yet confirmed was NB 5 at MLK,” Johnson said.

“The suspect vehicle in the first shooting at 320th was described as a white Volvo with CA plates,” Johnson said in posts on X.

Additional shootings with injuries were reported along southbound I-5 near State Road 18 and near 54th street in Pierce County, which is south of King County. The suspect vehicle in those shootings matched the earlier description, Johnson said.

At least two women were taken to a hospital for treatment, CNN affiliates KOMO and KING5 reported. Their conditions were unclear.

Traffic on southbound Interstate 5 just south of 320th Street in Federal Way was stopped briefly early Tuesday while troopers looked for evidence on the roadway, according to the state patrol.

There were 577 calls reporting a roadway crime involving a gun – including the brandishing of a firearm – between February 2023 and February 2024, KING5 reported, citing data from the Washington State Patrol. It’s a 70% increase from the number of incidents reported between March 2019 and March 2020, the outlet said.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

The-CNN-Wire
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