Viruses prevent cops from opening Huff's computer

Seattle police detectives investigating Saturday's Capitol Hill shootings have been unable to open Kyle Huff's computer but are not optimistic it will provide a motive for the mass killing.

Police confiscated two computer hard drives, one installed recently, from Huff's North Seattle apartment, but computer viruses have prevented police from retrieving data, said Capt. Tag Gleason, head of the violent-crimes unit.

"It's a piece of information we're looking at. We're not banking on it as a smoking gun," Gleason said.

Huff, a 28-year-old pizza-delivery driver, gunned down six people at a Capitol Hill party Saturday morning before shooting himself. It was the worst mass killing in Seattle in 23 years.

Police have been unable to find any record that Huff was treated for mental illness or was on psychiatric medication. Nor did there appear to be any confrontation at the party, however slight, that may have set Huff off, Gleason said.

"He appears to be socially inept, but no one offended him, and he didn't appear to be offended" by anyone at the party, he said.

Huff's twin brother, Kane, has left the area but has been cooperating with detectives. He is not considered a suspect and reacted with genuine surprise when told of his brother's crime, Gleason said.

"He said his brother's behavior did not change in the months" leading to the shooting, Gleason said.

During the search of Huff's apartment, police took a .30-caliber hunting rifle from his bedroom and two rifles from the bedroom of his brother. They also found six baggies that one police source said was suspected marijuana.

Finding a motive is important to reassure the public, Gleason said. But that reason is still missing. "Your guess is as good as ours," he said.

Immediately after the 7 a.m. shootings, neighbors called 911 for police and medical assistance. Wednesday, the Seattle Fire Department released eight recordings of the 911 calls for medical assistance. On the tapes, residents and medics can be heard asking for help.

"There's been a shooting at the intersection of 21st Avenue East and East Republican," a man claiming to be a neighbor reported. "There's a group of guys out here who are freaking out, and I'm relaying the information for them."

Seattle police have not released recordings of 911 calls made for police assistance.

Seattle Times staff reporter Jennifer Sullivan contributed to this report.

Jonathan Martin: 206-464-2605 or jmartin@seattletimes.com