Woman shoots burglary suspect breaking into her South Park home

SEATTLE (KOMO) - - A burglary suspect is in critical condition Thursday after a homeowner shot him in the shoulder from the roof of her house in Seattle’s South Park neighborhood, police said.

The shooting happened before 1 a.m. Thursday in the 600 block of Riverside Drive. The homeowner called 911, reporting she had shot an armed man as he tried to break into her home.

Police found the 41-year-old suspect behind the home with a gunshot wound in his shoulder, officials said. They also found a handgun beside him. Investigators believe he opened fire at he house at some point during the burglary.

The suspect was recovering in the ICU at Harborview as of Thursday evening.

Police arrested two others after they found them fleeing from the scene in a car as officers arrived. The two were arrested for eluding police, though SPD says those charges could be upgraded to Burglary at some point.

Seattle Police say this appears to be a case of self-defense, and it is unlikely the homeowner will face any charges.

Burglars ransacked the same home two days earlier while the homeowner was away.

“If there’s a connection, we’ll absolutely make it,” Detective Patrick Michaud said. “But this being a very active investigation, happened just this morning, we haven’t quite made that connection yet.”

Several workers in the area tell KOMO crime is getting worse in that neighborhood.

“I was surprised but not really surprised with how much stuff is going on down here,” Brad Crysler said.

Crysler tells KOMO thieves have stolen at least $100,000 of equipment and tools from his company’s buildings since he started working in South Park two years ago.

“It’s not fair that, especially in this area, we have to deal with all this,” he said.

South Park is one of seven neighborhoods where Seattle Police launched emphasis patrols in May. The patrols were extended, though SPD told KOMO they could not say if those patrols are still ongoing.