Seattle Mayor wants to take back control of CHAZ area and return the police after two shootings in the zone over weekend
Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan announce on Monday that the city is going to end the police-free zone called CHAZ or CHOP (Capitol Hill Organized Protest). Two recent shootings in the area, one of which was deadly, are the reason that brings to decision to return the police to the occupied zone.
A 19-year-old teen was shot in CHAZ on Saturday, including one more injured person. Volunteer medics inside the zone brought the victims of Saturday's shooting to the hospital rather than wait for the police and fire departments, who were preparing to respond before entering.
"The cumulative impacts of the gatherings and protests and the nighttime atmosphere and violence has led to increasingly difficult circumstances for our businesses and residents," Durkan said at a news conference. "The impacts have increased and the safety has decreased."
Another victim, a 14-year-old was shot in the arm on the edge of CHAZ on Sunday.
Police investigating reported shooting inside CHOP zone. One person at HMC with gun shot wound. Hearing reports of a second shooting, but have not be able to verify at this time. Conflicting reports, will update with more information when available.
— Seattle Police Dept. (@SeattlePD) June 22, 2020
"There should be no place in Seattle that the Seattle Fire Department and the Seattle Police Department can't go," Durkan said.
A thought of bringing back the law enforcement in the area also came to a leader of Not This Time! Anti-police-shooting organization, Andre Taylor, who told Monday,
"If I put myself in the mayor's position, I have to act when violence is around."