Wounded Seattle Smoke Shop Owner Fatally Shoots Gunman During Robbery

Seattle, WA – A smoke shop owner fatally shot an armed robbery suspect during a holdup at the Ballard neighborhood business on Monday afternoon.

The incident occurred at King Smoke Shop located at 7758 15th Avenue Northwest shortly after 4 p.m. on Feb. 20, KING reported.

Seattle police responded to the scene after receiving a report that a man had been shot in the parking lot, the department said in a press release later that day.

They arrived to find two men suffering from gunshot wounds.

Investigators determined the 38-year-old co-owner of the store was at work when a 29-year-old suspect barged in and attempted to rob him at gunpoint.

The robber shot the victim, at which point the store owner pulled his own gun and shot the suspect, according to police.

A witness said he was waiting to make a right turn at a red light near the shop when he saw the would-be robber coming out of the store, KING reported.

“The guy came stumbling out with a gun in his left hand and he fell face-first onto the sidewalk, or into the parking lot right here,” he recounted. “As he fell, the gun left his hand.”

The witness immediately called 911.

Meanwhile, community members rushed in to help the wounded store owner, KING reported.

They fashioned tourniquets using belts in efforts to curb his bleeding – a move Seattle Police Chief Adrian Diaz said likely saved his life.

“We’re very grateful for community members… they actually used belts to provide some life-saving measures,” Chief Diaz said.

Officers replaced the belts with tourniquets when they arrived at the scene and the victim was subsequently rushed to Harborview Medical Center by Seattle Fire Department personnel.

He was listed in serious condition at the hospital but is expected to survive, KING reported.

Officers rendered aid to the wounded robbery suspect, but he succumbed to his injuries at the scene.

#BREAKING: 1 dead, 1 injured/in serious condition in shooting at King Smoke Shop near 80th & 15th Ave NW in Ballard. @SeattlePD believe they have a suspect in custody @komonews pic.twitter.com/ywhnsLpnUE

— Lynnanne Nguyen (@LynnanneNguyen) February 21, 2023

The identities of the victim and the suspect were not immediately released.

The Seattle Police Department’s Homicide Unit’s investigation into the incident remains ongoing.