Seattle Shooting: 2 Killed, 3 Injured At Homeless Camp, Police Search For At Least 1 Gunman

UPDATE: 12:38 a.m. EST – Seattle Assistant Police Chief Robert Merner said at a briefing late Tuesday that officials have two “persons of interest” they will be seeking in connection with the shooting at a homeless camp in the city that killed two people and injured three. Merner also said that people at other homeless camps need not fear a similar incident.

"We have reason to believe it was very targeted as far as what happened there tonight," Merner said, according to Q13 Fox News.

The Q13 Fox report also cited Harborview Medical Center as saying it received four victims from the shooting, one of whom, a man, died. A woman was also killed in the incident.

Three others were undergoing surgery and two of them were in a critical condition, Susan Gregg, a spokeswoman for the hospital, said, according to Q13 Fox. The ages of the victims are reported to be between 25 and 45. KOMO News reported that the three injured were women.

Original story:

Two people have been killed and three injured after a shooting Tuesday at a homeless encampment near Airport Way South and South Atlantic St. in Seattle, police officials said via Twitter. The area was cordoned off by police Tuesday night as officials searched for at least one gunman.

The shooting reportedly occurred as Mayor Ed Murray made a speech on television about the city’s plans to tackle homelessness. Murray addressed the shooting later at a press conference, according to KOMO News, a local news network, which also reported that police officials were searching for two suspects.

“At this point, we don't know if it's safe, we urge people to stay away until we can get you additional information. Again it's an active crime scene, multiple victims, and we will have a press conference later this evening,” Murray said, according to KOMO News.

Authorities are currently investigating the location, where the shooting took place. Further details and the condition on the other three, who were shot, was not immediately available, the Seattle Times reported.

The report by KOMO News added that there were several police officials in the area, along with SWAT teams and sharp shooters, who were searching for the gunmen.

“Officers began searching a greenbelt in the area — sometimes colloquially referred to as 'The Jungle' — and found the five victims,” Seattle police department said in a statement, adding: “Police are actively searching the woods for the suspect or suspects and piecing together information about the incident.”

Police officials also said on their Twitter feed that they will hold a media briefing on the incident soon.