One Dead In Seattle Pacific University Shooting

Seattle Pacific University is a private Christian university located about 10 minutes from downtown Seattle. It has about 4,270 students.

Thursday, Aaron R. Ybarra, 26, armed with a shotgun and a knife, opened fire at Seattle Pacific University. While he was reloading, a student used pepper spray on the shooter and several others pinned him down until police officers arrived.

Assistant Police Chief Paul McDonagh said that Ybarra was not a student at the school.

The university locked down its campus for several hours, and it alerted students and staff to stay inside. Some students were taking finals in the same building that the shooter entered.

A 19-year-old man died at Harborview Medical Center.

Three other people were taken to the hospital. A critically wounded 20-year-old woman was in intensive care late Thursday night after about five hours in surgery.

A 24-year-old man was hospitalized in satisfactory condition. A Seattle Fire Department official said the man suffered “pellet type wounds” to his neck and chest.

A 22-year-old man was treated and released. Police said he suffered minor injuries during the struggle with the suspect.

Police do not know Ybarra’s motive, but did say that earlier, they served a warrant at a house that is believed to be tied to Ybarra.

Yesterday evening, people packed the First Free Methodist Church on campus for a service of prayers and song. “We’re a community that relies on Jesus Christ for strength, and we’ll need that at this point in time,” said Daniel Martin, president of Seattle Pacific University.

Seattle Mayor Ed Murray, noting previous mass shootings in the city, said: “Once again the epidemic of gun violence has come to Seattle.”

A video report with CNN’s Anderson Cooper is available here.

Our condolences to the family of the man killed, and good, positive thoughts for the successful recovery of the wounded.