Felony charges of three counts of first-degree assault are expected to be handed down in the coming days.
SEATTLE — A King County judge has ordered a 19-year-old Tacoma man held on $1.5 million bail in connection with a case Three shootings occur in Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood.
During a first appearance hearing Saturday, a judge found probable cause to detain the suspect under investigation for three counts of first-degree assault, according to the King County Prosecutor’s Office.
Prosecutors argued the arrests were probable cause, noting that the shooting occurred in a crowded public area and injured three people, including one victim who was shot in the abdomen. After hearing statements from both sides and reviewing first appearance documents, the judge set bail at the $1.5 million requested by prosecutors.
A felony charging decision is expected in the coming days. Prosecutors said they expected to receive a referral from Seattle police on Wednesday. Charging decisions require a higher burden of proof than an initial appearance hearing, which typically occurs after investigators present the case to prosecutors.
The suspect remains in custody at the King County Jail.
SWAT teams arrested the suspect without incident Friday afternoon, according to the Seattle Police Department.
Police arrested the suspect at an apartment just blocks away from the shooting scene. Investigators said the shooting happened around 1:10 a.m. on May 18 outside the Cultura nightclub in the 900 block of East Pike Street.
Video reviewed by KING 5 appears to capture nine shots ringing out on the sidewalk during the fight. Seconds later, a man can be seen running back into the club clutching his butt before collapsing on the sidewalk as people rush to help and call 911.
Seattle police spokesman Eric Munoz said one of the men involved in the altercation and two bystanders who were not involved in the fight were shot.
Police identified the victim as a 26-year-old man, who investigators say was involved in the altercation, as well as a 23-year-old man and a 28-year-old man, described as innocent bystanders. All three victims are expected to survive.
KING 5 typically does not release the names of suspects until they are formally charged.
The King County Prosecutor’s Office said it has not previously received any referrals involving the suspects.
