On the morning of September 27, 2023, a chaotic and tragic series of events unfolded, culminating in the death of 30-year-old Bisrat Getahun, a Black / African American male from Seattle, Washington. The incident began around 9:11 a.m. in the 14700 block of Bothell Way NE in Lake Forest Park, initially reported as a multi-vehicle collision. However, the situation was far more complex, as officers arriving at the scene learned that shots had been fired and an RV was seen fleeing southbound
towards Seattle.
The preliminary investigation revealed that the incident was rooted in an attempt by individuals to recover a stolen vehicle. It is believed that Getahun, who was driving the RV, tried to intervene and use his vehicle to prevent the recovery. This action led to shots being fired into the RV. Following the shooting, the RV fled the scene, striking several other vehicles in multiple locations before finally coming to a stop in the 13700 block of 27th Ave NE in Seattle.
When Seattle Police located the RV, they found Bisrat Getahun inside. Despite the life-saving measures attempted by first responders, he was pronounced deceased at the scene. The King County Medical Examiner's Office later confirmed that Getahun's cause of death was a gunshot wound to the head.
In the immediate aftermath of the incident, the individual who fired the shots at the RV was detained by law enforcement. The investigation into the complex events of that morning remains active and ongoing, involving multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Lake Forest Park Police Department, the Coalition of Small Police Agencies Major Crimes Task Force, the Washington State Patrol, the King County Sheriff's Office, and the Seattle Police Department. The King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office has also been involved in the investigation. As of now, further details regarding any arrests or the identification of a specific suspect or suspects have not been publicly released.
