Seattle police are investigating after a restaurant employee was shot and killed inside the store. No arrests have been made.
SEATTLE — Seattle police are investigating after a restaurant employee was found dead from an apparent gunshot wound inside a restaurant Saturday morning.
Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes said employees arrived at the nearby restaurant in the 8500 block of Lake City Way around 9 a.m. and found a male co-worker in his early 20s dead at the scene.
The victim had been working the night before and was trusted with closing the restaurant, Barnes said.
Seattle police and firefighters responded to the incident and the victim was pronounced dead.
Investigators have not made any arrests and Barnes said the case is in its early stages. Detectives are collecting physical and digital evidence, including surveillance video.
Police have not released details of a possible motive. Barnes declined to say whether robbery might have played a role, whether investigators believe there was one or more suspects, or whether the shooting occurred inside or outside the restaurant.
Barnes said the restaurant owners are cooperating with investigators and are concerned about the victims and the surrounding community.
Barnes said police would increase patrols in the area while detectives continued to search for witnesses and evidence.
Police urge anyone with information or surveillance footage related to the homicide to contact 911 or Crime Stoppers.
This is the 12th homicide in Seattle in 2026.
