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U.S. NEWS Friday 24 January 2020
Shootings in downtown Seattle prompting calls for action

By LISA BAUMANN serious and a 32-year-old
SEATTLE (AP) — A shootout man and the boy were list-
in downtown Seattle during ed in satisfactory condition.
the evening commute that Amazon, which has offices
left a woman dead and a nearby and is the city's larg-
9-year-old boy injured was est employer, said two of its
the third violent incident workers who happened to
this week in a part of the be passing by were wound-
city long known for ram- ed, but their injuries were
pant drug use and street not life-threatening.
unrest. "We are deeply troubled by
Business groups implored last night's events in Seattle
officials to improve pub- and our thoughts go out to
lic safety. And while crime everyone impacted by this
rates in Seattle are low tragedy," Amazon said in a
compared to other big statement Thursday.
cities, critics say mayhem Video showed several peo-
downtown – from shoot- ple firing weapons after the
ings, to drug dealing and dispute outside a McDon-
the effects of the city's on- ald's. Police including homi-
going homelessness crisis Officers attend to one of several shooting victims, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2020, in Seattle, after a cide and gang units were
– makes locals and tourists gunman opened fire in the heavily trafficked downtown area. investigating.
feel unsafe. Associated Press "This is not a random inci-
The Downtown Seattle As- dent, there were multiple
sociation, a business group, area where Wednesday's been a high-crime spot lic officials to devote the people involved,"' said Po-
said in a statement the shooting happened has for years. "We call on pub- resources necessary to im- lice Chief Carmen Best.
prove safety in downtown," "There was a dispute that
David Duke agrees to pay $5K the group said. "We say happened in front of the
McDonald's, people pulled
enough is enough."
to man hurt at Virginia rally Three people, including the out guns, shots rang out,
people ran in various direc-
boy, remained hospital-
ized Thursday after police tions."
By ANDREW WELSH-HUG- say several people opened Seattle Police said via Twit-
GINS fire, killing a woman. It was ter Thursday they were
Associated Press the third downtown Seattle searching for two suspects
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — shooting in two days. considered armed and
Former Ku Klux Klan leader Authorities began receiv- dangerous: Marquise La-
David Duke has agreed to ing calls of multiple gunshot trelle Tolbert and William
pay an Ohio man $5,000 victims at about 5 p.m., Ray Tolliver, both 24.. Re-
after the man alleged he said Seattle Fire Chief Har- cords show both have
was severely injured during old Scoggins. The person lengthy arrest records.
a white supremacist and who died was a woman Samantha Cook said she
neo-Nazi rally two years in her 40s, fire officials said. was in a nearby train sta-
ago in Virginia attended by Seven people were treat- tion when she heard gun-
Duke, according to attor- ed for gunshot wounds, fire Wednesday.
neys and court documents. said Harborview Medical "I was on the first set of es-
Bill Burke, of Athens, Ohio, Center spokeswoman Su- calators," Cook told The Se-
says he was struck by a car In an Aug. 12, 2017, file photo, David Duke arrives to give re- san Gregg. attle Times. "There were a
driven by James Alex Fields marks after a white nationalist protest was declared an unlawful The condition of a 55-year- lot of gunshots that started
Jr. — in a crash that killed assembly, in Charlottesville, Va. old woman was upgraded going off — maybe 10 or
counter protester Heather Associated Press from critical condition to 11. It was just rapid fire."q
Heyer — during the August
2017 rally in Charlottesville, who refuse to be silenced dreds of white nationalists
Virginia. or intimidated by white su- to Charlottesville to protest
Burke's physical injuries still premacy," said Michael the planned removal of
require medical treatment Fradin, representing Burke. a statue of Confederate
and may be permanent, Kyle Bristow, a lawyer rep- Gen. Robert E. Lee.
and he has experienced resenting Duke, noted that In December 2018, Fields
"severe psychological and Duke "categorically and was convicted of first-
emotional suffering," ac- vigorously denied" the alle- degree murder in the kill-
cording to Burke's May gations in the lawsuit. ing of Heyer and multiple
2019 federal lawsuit. "I merely attended a rally charges for injuries caused
The lawsuit names mul- to defend the heritage to others in the car attack.
tiple defendants, including and rights of European- He was sentenced to life in
Fields and Duke. Burke on Americans," Duke said in a prison plus 419 years. He is
Tuesday accepted an "of- statement provided by Bris- appealing his convictions.
fer of judgment" from Duke tow. "I have always been Fields, of Maumee, Ohio,
for $5,000, according to dedicated to non-violence already is serving life sen-
court records and Duke's and human rights, and I tences after accepting a
attorney. condemn violence." plea agreement in a sepa-
The judgment "is a step in The "Unite the Right" rally on rate federal hate crimes
the right direction for those Aug. 12, 2017, drew hun- case.q