Man fires at homes, police, then kills self

In a peaceful North Seattle neighborhood, a block or two from the Police Department's North Precinct, a lone gunman began randomly firing at homes and cars Sunday morning before wounding a police officer as he arrived to confront the suspect.

The officer fired a single shot at the man before being struck in the arm by shrapnel, police said.

Moments later, the gunman, a neighborhood resident, pointed his handgun at his own head and fired a fatal shot, police said. The 53-year-old man, who lived alone and kept to himself, according to neighbors, died in his own driveway.

The shooting began about 9:50 a.m. and turned the 9700 block of Wallingford Avenue North into a chaotic crime scene.

"Witnesses saw the suspect fire up into the air and at houses, then go and hide, and then come back out again," said Officer Debra Brown, a police spokeswoman. Neighbors reported hearing dozens of shots fired.

Judy Groombridge said she heard gunfire and saw two men walking through a neighbor's backyard. Groombridge said she thought they might be involved in the shooting. That's when she armed herself with a gun she says she keeps for protection.

"I'm from Montana, and I can still shoot a rabbit on the run," Groombridge said.

The wounded police officer, a veteran of the force, was taken to Harborview Medical Center with a non-life-threatening injury, Brown said. The officer's name was not released.

The gunman also took aim at a second officer, a patrol sergeant, who arrived moments after the first officer. A bullet shattered the windshield of the second officer's car. The officer, who had taken cover outside his vehicle, was not hurt, Brown said.

Both officers work out of the North Precinct.

After the shooting, near North Seattle Community College, some residents reported seeing several suspects. But police say they believe only one man was involved.

The police SWAT team searched dozens of homes to make sure no one else was hiding, Brown said. Police investigators blocked off several blocks, combing the area for shell casings and other evidence until late in the evening.

"We have confirmed he was the sole shooter," Brown said. "There are no suspects at large."

Given the chaos, police believe neighbors may have mistaken residents trying to get away, or others who might have armed themselves, as being involved, Brown said.

Just as the shooting started, Livia Walker, 83, got into her car and began driving down the street to visit daughter Pat Ewen. The man shot at her car, striking it, according to Ewen. Walker didn't realize her car had been hit, and she wasn't hurt, Ewen said.

The man then crossed the street to Walker's house and began firing into the front door.

Walker's family was baffled yesterday about the man's motive. The man moved into his home about 10 years ago.

"There's nice people living here. If he had asked for help, anybody would have helped him," said Ewen, 48.

Sunday's shootout was one of three unrelated shootings in Seattle over the weekend. Police are seeking suspects in the other two, in which one person was killed and three injured.

Lake City shooting

Around 4:30 a.m. Sunday, someone fired into a house in the 14300 block of 20th Avenue Northeast, near Lake City Way, hitting a 27-year-old man in the head, Brown said.

About 25 people were attending a party there. The suspect stood outside and fired into the house, Brown said.

Brown said police think the shooter knew people at the house, but because he shot from outside, it was unlikely he was aiming to shoot the particular victim.

"We think [the victim] may just have been sitting at the wrong place at the wrong time," Brown said.

The victim was taken to Harborview Medical Center. He was in critical condition Sunday night, Brown said.

Pioneer Square shooting

A 23-year-old man died after being struck in a flurry of gunfire in the Pioneer Square area early Saturday. Two others were struck by bullets.

Witnesses said they heard eight to 10 shots near Occidental Avenue South and Yesler Way around 3:10 a.m. Saturday.

Police believe one shooter was Francisco Green, who later died at Harborview Medical Center.

Witnesses described the other as a black male, about 6 feet tall with a large build, and wearing a red shirt and red baseball cap. He fled in a silver van.

Two people were injured as they drove into the intersection.

A 30-year-old man from Tacoma was struck in the knee but drove to Harborview. His passenger, a 28-year-old man from Renton, was hit eight times in the arms and once in the chest. Their conditions were unavailable Sunday night.

Rachel Tuinstra: 206-515-5637 or rtuinstra@seattletimes.com