Seattle Police Department
Escalating street gunfire and mounting casualties inside the Capitol Hill Occupied Protest forced city officials to declare an emergency and disband the autonomous zone.
AI-assisted summary of Violence in the C.H.O.P — original source. Check the original for full context.
Source published:
Key ideas
- Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan declared a Proclamation of Civil Emergency and an unlawful assembly for the East Precinct and Cal Anderson Park following weeks of violence, three shootings, multiple injuries, and the deaths of two teenagers.
- Open-source footage from within the CHOP zone documents active gunfire erupting near the intersection of East Pine Street and 13th Avenue. (0:00)
- Witnesses and livestreamers on the ground concluded the escalating gunfire would mark the definitive end of the CHOP occupation. (0:00)
- Chaotic audio captures civilian triage attempts, calls for the wounded, and an individual stating they ran out of ammunition during the confrontation. (0:00)
Detailed notes
## Background Published on YouTube by the Seattle Police Department on July 1, 2020, this video compiles open-source footage documenting violent incidents within Seattle's Capitol Hill Occupied Protest (CHOP) zone. According to the page description, the release coincided with Mayor Jenny Durkan issuing a Proclamation of Civil Emergency declaring the area an unlawful assembly following weeks of violence, multiple shootings, injuries, and the deaths of two teenagers.
## TL;DR The video presents chaotic street-level footage capturing gunfire and panic inside Seattle's CHOP zone near East Pine Street and 13th Avenue. A bystander filming the scene flees from sudden shots and remarks that the escalating violence marks the end of the occupation. Multiple gunshots are heard followed by groans of pain from victims caught in the crossfire as crowds scatter and seek shelter. In the frantic aftermath, people scramble to locate wounded individuals, exchange panicked remarks about running out of ammunition, and search in disbelief for a missing driver.
## Atmosphere & style The footage carries an intensely frantic, volatile, and disorienting atmosphere driven by raw, handheld perspectives from the ground. Casual, uneasy nighttime street interactions abruptly fracture into sheer terror as active gunfire erupts without warning. The audio landscape is visceral and grim, filled with screams, desperate shouts to run, groans of injured individuals, and the heavy shock of witnesses grappling with the unfolding nightmare.
## Bulletin - Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan declared a Proclamation of Civil Emergency and an unlawful assembly for the East Precinct and Cal Anderson Park following weeks of violence, three shootings, multiple injuries, and the deaths of two teenagers. - [00:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_K0tXOBPMHA&t=0s) Open-source footage from within the CHOP zone documents active gunfire erupting near the intersection of East Pine Street and 13th Avenue. - [00:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_K0tXOBPMHA&t=0s) Witnesses and livestreamers on the ground concluded the escalating gunfire would mark the definitive end of the CHOP occupation. - [00:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_K0tXOBPMHA&t=0s) Chaotic audio captures civilian triage attempts, calls for the wounded, and an individual stating they ran out of ammunition during the confrontation.
## Key takeaways - Mayor Jenny Durkan issued an emergency proclamation declaring the gathering in the East Precinct and Cal Anderson Park an unlawful assembly requiring immediate clearance. - The executive emergency order followed sustained violence in the CHOP area, including three separate shootings that resulted in multiple injuries and two teenage fatalities. - [00:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_K0tXOBPMHA&t=0s) On-the-ground footage captures bystanders navigating the occupied perimeter around East Pine Street and 13th Avenue just prior to gunfire. - [00:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_K0tXOBPMHA&t=0s) Sudden gunfire triggers immediate panic, causing witnesses and livestreamers to flee the scene seeking shelter. - [00:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_K0tXOBPMHA&t=0s) Bystanders characterize the renewed gunfire as a second shooting incident and express the belief that CHOP cannot continue after the violence. - [00:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_K0tXOBPMHA&t=0s) Direct gunfire is captured alongside groans and sounds of distress from individuals struck in the crossfire. - [00:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_K0tXOBPMHA&t=0s) Individuals on the ground seek safety in local establishments while attempting to confirm each other's physical condition amid widespread confusion. - [00:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_K0tXOBPMHA&t=0s) Frantic triage attempts occur in the dark as bystanders call out to locate wounded victims requiring aid. - [00:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_K0tXOBPMHA&t=0s) Participants involved in the shooting exchange are heard discussing firearm ammunition, with one stating they ran out of bullets. - [00:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_K0tXOBPMHA&t=0s) Crowd members react with shock and alarm regarding a vehicle and the condition or presence of its driver.
## Detailed walkthrough ### [00:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_K0tXOBPMHA&t=0s) Gunfire, Chaos, and Casualties in the Capitol Hill Occupied Protest
The footage captures raw, chaotic open-source scenes of escalating violence within Seattle's Capitol Hill Occupied Protest (CHOP) zone, opening with distant police screams and scattered acknowledgments. A bystander or livestreamer on the ground interacts with observers, addressing a question about navigating the perimeter: “Somebody's saying, 'Can I walk to Pine and 13th?'” The person confirms that they can head in that direction, observing their surroundings until sudden gunfire erupts nearby. Panicked, the speaker turns to flee, exclaiming, “Oh shit! More shots fired, I'm running away.” Taking shelter while processing the escalating crisis, the speaker offers a bleak prognosis for the occupied zone, remarking, “This has got to be the end of CHOP in my opinion, this second shooting.” Describing the unfolding situation, they conclude, “I think it's pretty much over after this. this is kind of a nightmare.”
The atmosphere deteriorates rapidly into street-level panic marked by shouts, heavy thuds, and direct gunfire. Amid repeated cries of “Go!” and “Come on!”, distinct gunshots ring out, followed immediately by sounds of groaning and painful distress from individuals caught in the crossfire. People in the area scramble to take cover and assess their surroundings, with one individual deciding to retreat toward nearby shelter, noting, “I'm going to go to the restaurant.” Bystanders quickly check in on each other’s physical condition, asking, “Are we good?” to which another confirms, “I'm good.” General confusion spreads through the crowd over the extent of the violence, with individuals admitting, “We don't know what's going on.”
The immediate aftermath centers on frantic efforts to locate casualties and coordinate movement away from danger. Voices call out into the darkness to identify victims, asking, “Are there any wounded?” Others urgently respond, “Uh, yeah, we do have that,” as people press for their location, asking, “Where are they?” Rapid commands to “Go! Go! Go! Go! Go! Go! Go! Go!” echo across the street as people disperse. In the confusion, individuals involved in the confrontation discuss the exchange of fire, with one person stating, “I'm sorry I ran out of bullets.” Amid panic surrounding a vehicle and its occupant, someone shouts in disbelief, “Where's the driver this, oh my god,” while bystanders grapple with the sheer shock of the scene, uttering, “Holy smokes.”
- **Location referenced:** The intersection of East Pine Street and 13th Avenue on Capitol Hill. - **Incident severity:** On-the-ground witnesses identify the event as a second major shooting incident, prompting declarations that the occupation cannot survive the violence. - **Casualty response:** Bystanders immediately attempt triage, calling out to locate wounded individuals across the street. - **Firearm discharge:** Audio records active gunfire, cries of pain from struck individuals, and participants acknowledging running out of ammunition during the confrontation.
## Notable quotes > [00:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_K0tXOBPMHA&t=0s) This has got to be the end of CHOP in my opinion, this second shooting.
## Mentioned Capitol Hill Occupied Protest (CHOP), Seattle Police Department, Jenny Durkan, East Precinct, Cal Anderson Park, Capitol Hill, Pine Street and 13th Avenue
## Video description Open-source video of violent incidents in Seattle's Capitol Hill Occupied Protest (CHOP) zone.
On July 1, 2020, Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan issued a Proclamation of Civil Emergency regarding the East Precinct and Cal Anderson Park area. The order declared the gathering in this area as an “unlawful assembly” requiring immediate action from city agencies, including the Seattle Police Department.
This order, and the police response in the area, comes after weeks of violence in and around the CHOP, including three shootings, resulting multiple injuries and the deaths of two teenagers.
https://spdblotter.seattle.gov/2020/07/01/mayor-durkan-issues-emergency-order-regarding-capitol-hill-protest-zone/
[Source](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_K0tXOBPMHA)