A Seattle man suspected of multiple shootings has died Wednesday night, a hospital spokesman told the Associated Press.
Officers believe the man was responsible for a Wednesday morning shooting spree that has now left five people dead: four from a Seattle cafe, and one at a downtown parking lot as part of a carjacking.
The Seattle Times identified the suspect as Ian Lee Stawicki, a 40-year-old Seattle resident. His brother, Andrew Stawicki, said, "It's no surprise to me this happened. We could see this coming. Nothing good is going to come with that much anger inside of you."
The gunman left a trail of victims: Two men died at the cafe. Two women and another man died later at hospitals. One of the men killed at the cafe was described as a performance artist who was known as the "godfather of Café Racer." He and the other man killed at the cafe were members of a local band, God's Favorite Beefcake.
Police went a manhunt for the suspect after the spate of violence.
"[We] were searching an area in Southwest Seattle when a plainclothes detective saw who he believed to be the suspect," Seattle Police Assistant Chief James Pugel said at a news conference. He said once the suspect saw officers surround him, the suspected gunman knelt down and shot himself in the head.
"We strongly believe this is the person who committed the homicides," Pugel said. The man's clothing and other items he had on him also matched what witnesses saw on a suspect who shot a woman and drove off in her SUV. "We feel confident that unfortunately these shootings are all connected," Pugel said.
Earlier, police released a photo from inside the cafe, showing a man believed to be the suspect standing and holding what appears to be a handgun.
Before the shootings, someone reported that a man was making suicidal threats, according to the Seattle Post Intelligencer. Officers aren't sure yet if it has any connection to the shootings.
Schools in the area were put on lockdown for most of the day as officers went door-to-door within a 10-block radius of the café searching for the suspect.
The Seattle PI notes that Seattle has seen an unusual spike in homicides, 15 through Friday, compared to 20 total in each of the previous two years.
Timeline
-- 11:00 a.m. PT: 911 calls come in about shots fired near Café Racer
-- Officers respond. Police find five people down inside café. Two dead at the scene.
-- 11:30 a.m. PT: Shooting reported at downtown garage near 8th and Seneca
-- Witnesses report hearing yelling and a gunshot. Woman is down. A male is reported to have jumped into woman's SUV
-- FBI, police, University of Washington police canvass area near café looking for potential leads
-- SUV is found abandoned
-- Police release still photos of scene inside bar before shooting
-- Suspect spotted by police, suspect shoots himself
Correction 9:15 p.m. ET: At an earlier news conference, it was reported the suspect had died. He is now listed in critical condition.
Update 11:30 p.m. PT: This story was updated to include the reported identity of the suspect.
Update 11:50 p.m. PT: This story was updated to include the suspect's death, as well as the death of a fifth victim.
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