Washington State Patrol is investigating a series of shootings that occurred overnight along Interstate 5, a major highway along the Pacific Coast, leaving multiple people injured.
One suspect is in custody following the string of at least four shootings, which began Monday night along the north-south interstate in the Seattle and Tacoma areas of Washington, according to the patrol.
The first shooting was reported in the northbound lanes at 320th Street, King County Trooper Rick Johnson posted around 9:30 p.m. local time on social media site X. A second shooting was later confirmed near Interstate 90 near Seattle, while Johnson said on social media that troopers were investigating other reports of shootings.
State patrol later said they received reports of two more shootings on Interstate 5 involving the same suspected vehicle as the earlier two incidents. One shooting took place near State Route 18 and one near 54th Street south of Seattle in Pierce County, Johnson said on X. Both shootings caused injuries, he added, though he did not specify how many people were wounded.
Johnson's posts did not specify the times that the shootings occurred. USA TODAY left messages Tuesday morning for Johnson and other public information officers at Washington State Patrol that were not immediately returned.
Two passengers in separate vehicles were injured in the first two shootings, Johnson said.
Shortly after the first shooting, the 911 caller exited the freeway and drove to a nearby fire station for treatment before being taken to a hospital. The victim told troopers that the suspect vehicle description was a white Volvo with California plates, Johnson said.
The second victim was injured in the shooting that occurred near Interstate 90, Johnson said. The Seattle Fire Department said that their crews treated a 20-year-old woman who was taken to Harborview Medical Center and listed in critical condition, KOMO-TV reported.
As of Monday night, Troopers were investigating whether another related shooting took place northbound on Interstate 5 near Martin Luther King Junior Way in Tukwila, Johnson said.
Traffic on southbound Interstate 5 just south of 320th Street in Federal Way was stopped briefly while troopers looked for evidence, according to the state Department of Transportation.
A multi-agency search led law enforcement to eventually locate the suspect vehicle and make an arrest, Johnson shared on X.
The suspected shooter was taken into custody after police in Pierce County located the vehicle, Johnson told CNN.
No additional details were immediately available.
Eric Lagatta covers breaking and trending news for USA TODAY. Reach him at [email protected]
