(Photo : David Ryder | Getty Images)
A signs reads "Capitol Hill Occupied Protest" in area that has been referred to by protesters by that name as well as "Capitol Hill Organized Protest, or CHOP, on June 14, 2020 in Seattle, Washington.

Another fatal shooting erupted at the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone, killing one black teenager and injuring a 14-year-old boy. The incident near downtown Seattle is the fourth in 10 days amid a national wave of protests against police brutality.

On Monday morning, the city's police department responded to multiple reports of gunshots. The call claimed several unidentified people shot a white Jeep that was parked at 12th Avenue and Pike Street near the zone's barriers.

A 16-year-old was rushed to the Harborview Medical Center at 3:30 AM following the shooting. He later died in the hospital. Another victim, a 14-year-old, remained in critical condition in Harborview's intensive care, NBC News reported.

Investigators have yet to identify any suspect. However, police claims the crime scene was disturbed. In a news briefing, Seattle Police Chief Carmen Best revealed her detectives found signs that people had been in and out of the Jeep after the fatal shooting.

"Detectives are trying to get information from other witnesses, but as has been the case in other crime scenes up in this area, people are not being cooperative with our requests for help," Best said.

Previous Shootings

The first fatal shooting in the autonomous zone occurred on the morning of June 20. According to a report by The New York Times, officers responded to a report of gunfire at Cal Anderson Park around 2:20 AM. A 19-year-old gunshot victim was transported to a hospital where he was pronounced dead.

John Moore, a volunteer medic working inside CHAZ, claimed the Seattle Fire Department refused to send help despite being informed of the victim's dire condition. The doctor also revealed other medics treating the second victim also faced difficulties with getting support from authorities.

Another shooting occurred the following day. The second incident left a 17-year-old boy injured, as reported in a previous article. He was rushed to the Harborview Medical Center, where he was treated and, later, released.

Two days later, a third shooting occurred at 11th Avenue and East Denny Way in the early morning hours. At least one person was injured.

What is CHAZ?

The Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone (CHAZ) or Capitol Hill Organized Protest (CHOP) is a protected zone of about six blocks around the East Precinct at 11th Avenue and East Pine Street. It was established on June 8 after law enforcement, led by Police Chief Carmen Best, vacated the precinct to open the streets for peaceful marches.

The barricaded area allows demonstrators to gather away from any police. Observers' accounts claim the area-which includes apartments, businesses, and the precinct-has free food, vegan pizza, a medical center, a garden, and a Black Lives Matter mural, Forbes reported.

In the self-declared autonomous zone, protesters also offer movie screenings, poetry performances, and a "Conversation Cafe" where attendees are invited to discuss anti-fascism.

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