KEY POINTS

  • Man in custody after driving his car into crowd of protesters in Seattle, Sunday
  • Suspect also shot and wounded demonstrator in the arm
  • Seattle firefighters transported the 27-year-old victim to Harborview Medical Center

A protest in Seattle turned ugly Sunday (June 7) after a man drove his car into a crowd who gathered in the wake of the death of African-American George Floyd allegedly in the hands of a white Minneapolis police officer.

Eyewitness video also showed that the driver shot a demonstrator who tried to stop the vehicle from ramming the group. The Seattle Police Department said in a tweet that firefighters transported the 27-year-old to Harborview Medical Center after sustaining a gunshot wound to the arm.

The incident happened around 8:30 p.m. at 11th Avenue and Pine Street, according to King 5. The victim was in stable condition.

Demonstrators have rallied in Australia in support of the US protests
Demonstrators have rallied in Australia in support of the US protests AFP / Saeed KHAN

Seattle PD also advised the crowd to approach the perimeter should they require medical assistance. Fortunately, no other casualties were reported.

Witnesses told the outlet the suspect drove a black sedan and barged his way toward a protest barricade. Twitter user Chase Burns posted the video on her account and said the man later “exited his car and flashed a gun” and ran into the crowd.

The shooter turned himself over to the police following the incident, said Reuters.

NBC News also posted a photo where protesters formed a circle while medics treat the victim on site.

Authorities later tried to disperse the demonstrators, but some people greeted them by throwing “projectile and fireworks.”

“The crowd is throwing bottles, rocks, fireworks and other projectiles at officers. The crowd is shining green lasers into officers' eyes,” the Department said in a Tweet. It added that they were “responding” with pepper spray and blast balls. Police also “authorized the use of tear gas,” said NBC News.

Seattle PD also tackled a similar scenario Saturday when protesters outside the East Precinct threw rocks, bottles and improvised explosives at them. Flashbang devices and pepper spray were used to disperse the crowd.

Detectives also located and arrested a 22-year-old woman after she was observed to have repeatedly hit a Seattle Police patrol vehicle with a baseball bat.

The patrol car, which was parked near 5th Avenue and Pine Street, was set on fire.

The woman was later booked at King County Jail for investigation of malicious mischief, according to a blotter filed by the Department.

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