[Federalist] Activist campaigns against police to have accelerated in the wake of a violent altercation between police and George Floyd that prefaced his death. In response, mayors of several cities have reduced police presence. This has led in several cases to dramatic increases in violent crime.Seattle
Since violent protests against police have begun, there have been numerous reports of shootings occurring in Seattle and the six-block Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone over the last few days.
One protestor named Jake Scheels inadvertendly caught a shooting on camera. In one moment, Scheels can be seen describing life in the CHAZ while he plays frisbee and walks around the area. A neighborhood overtaken by gun-toting anti-police vigilantes, CHAZ is also known as Capitol Hill Occupied Protest, or CHOP.
https://m.facebook.com/jake.scheels/videos/10158069910340590/
"Look it, it’s being resolved peacefully," he says. "Peacefully. Peacefully. No one is going to f-cking jail. There’s nothing to be afraid of down here at the CHOP."
Just seconds later, Scheels is seen walking his car as protestors around him scatter, screaming, and gunshots ring out.
"It’s getting a little wild down here now," he says. He continues once he is in his car with, "Dude, there’s f-cking gunshots. I’m out of here." He later returns to the scene and begins describing the suspected shooter to the camera.
According to a statement released by the Seattle Police Department, officers also responded to a shooting in the CHAZ early Saturday morning but "were met by a violent crowd that prevented officers safe access to the victims."
Footage from security cameras and officers’ body cameras during the incident was later released and shows officers attempting to push past protestors to respond to the report of a shooting in the area.
"Please move out of the way so we can get to the victim. All we are trying to do is get to the victim and provide them aid," says one officer.
According to CNN, "a later clip shows police leaving as members of the public continue to yell at them."