Occupied protest zone in Seattle faces a crackdown as two-weekend shootings occur.
Photo by terimakasih0 from Pixabay

Another person was shot near Seattle's protest zone referred to as the "Capitol Hill Occupied Protest" or CHOP, in less than 48 hours.

The shooting incident took place on Sunday night and it involved a 17-year-old victim, who suffered a gunshot wound to his arm, as reported by Q13 Fox News.

Police said the victim has declined to speak with authorities about the incident that occurred in Cal Anderson Park, where protesters gathered for peaceful demonstrations against police brutality.

Like the first victim shot on Saturday, the teen was rushed to Harborview Medical Center by zone volunteer medics in private cars since there was no police in the area.

Authorities Blocked From the Area

Seattle Post-Intelligencer said authorities were unable to get to the crime scene due to the hostile environment.

The recent gun violence in the area was allegedly related to the demonstrations.

Since the protests started, loud gunshots could be heard in the neighborhood from time to time.

Recently, a federal court ordered Seattle police to temporarily stop using tear gas, flash-bangs, and pepper sprays to break up large peaceful protests.

Be that as it may, Bobby Stills, a volunteer at the CHOP protest zone, asserted that having no police presence made people free to do whatever they want to do.

"You never know who's going to show up. That's why people here are on such high alert - they don't know who's who or what's what or their intentions," the Seattle resident added.

Last June 18, a volunteer medic was also sexually assaulted when a man coaxed her inside his tent and started forcibly kissing and touching her private areas.

The tragic incident was prevented from escalating when another medic overheard the attack.

Prior to the gun violence on Sunday, a grimmer episode also happened at the CHOP when an early Saturday morning firing has critically injured a 33-year-old man and left a 19-year-old man dead as reported by The Epoch Times.

CHOP Members Submit Proposal

In view of the recent violence that is happening inside the CHOP protest zone, some members have released an "open letter" directed to the leaders and organizers of the barricaded community.

They suggested instilling curfew hours and creating a safe use area on the outer parts of the zone, as well as putting up signages that will keep drunk people from loitering inside the zone.

Mayor Addresses CHOP Protest Zone Violence

Last Monday, Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan said in a press conference that situations inside the protest camp have become different, particularly at night during the past weekend.

She assured the public that the city is doing its best to offer community resources, especially to those who have been left homeless in the area.

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