The Olympia Police Department (OPD) is investigating a shooting that occurred in the area of 4th Avenue and Franklin Street the night of Friday, Sept. 25.
OPD officers were conducting normal patrols in downtown Olympia when one officer reportedly heard multiple gunshots about a block away from his location at approximately 11:07 p.m.
“As he rounded the corner into a parking lot … there was a large crowd running away from the scene,” OPD Lt. Paul Lower told the Thurston Chronicle on Monday, Sept. 28.
The officer reportedly saw a person fleeing the area with a firearm.
Officers detained that person, along with several other people who were in the immediate area. Those individuals have since been released.
Approximately 10 minutes after officers arrived at the scene, law enforcement was notified that a young adult man had arrived at a local hospital with a gunshot injury to the torso.
The man, whose name has not been released, was ultimately transported to Tacoma General Hospital for medical treatment.
He was in stable condition as of Monday, Sept. 28, and is expected to survive.
No other injuries were reported, though several vehicles and a business were damaged by gunfire.
Based on the preliminary investigation, officers believe that two groups of people had gotten into a verbal argument that escalated to a physical dispute, and further escalated with multiple individuals discharged firearms.
According to Lower, investigators believe that two people exchanged gunfire, but have not ruled out the possibility of a third shooter.
No arrests had been made as of Monday afternoon.
Investigators are working to determine what led to the shooting and the involvement of each person who was detained, according to OPD.
Investigators are continuing to collect evidence, interview witnesses, and work to establish the sequence of events.
“This remains an active and ongoing investigation,” OPD stated. “Additional information will be released as facts are confirmed and when doing so will not compromise the investigation.”
The area was closed to traffic for several hours while investigators processed and documented the scene.
“We appreciate the assistance of our regional law enforcement partners who responded to the scene and supported our officers and investigators,” OPD stated.
Anyone with information about this incident, including anyone who witnessed the shooting or has relevant video, is asked to contact OPD at 360-704-2740.
