Gunman who threatened doctor jumps to his death

A Seattle man jumped to his death off the West Seattle Bridge today after chasing a doctor with a handgun in a Queen Anne office building earlier in the day.

Police were called shortly after 11:30 a.m. to the 200 block of West Mercer Street, where the 30-year-old man had apparently gotten into an argument with the doctor over a prescription, said Seattle police spokeswoman Renee Witt.

The man pulled out a handgun and started chasing the doctor around the office, she said.

The gunman left the building before police arrived and headed to West Seattle.

While searching for the man in the area around the office, police found some of his identification and the jacket that he had been wearing, said Witt.

About an hour later, police learned the man had jumped off the West Seattle Bridge and landed on the shore line at West Marginal Way.

He died at the scene.

The main entrance at the office building was blocked off with a metal gate this afternoon. One building tenant said it was because of "police activity."

Officials with Legacy Partners, the building management company, refused to comment.

Christina Siderius: csiderius@seattletimes.com

Seattle Times staff reporter Jennifer Sullivan contributed to this report.