CHAZ’s Legacy: Shootings in Seattle’s Capitol Hill Neighborhood in First Months of 2023 Exceed 2022 Total

As of April 2023, shootings in Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood have reach a high point not seen in years, with a shooting that injured a 9-year-old boy and killed a community activist marking a multi-year high of shooting cases. This follows the events of 2020 when portions of this neighborhood were abandoned by city officials and turned over to Antifa and BLM rioters, becoming known as the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone (CHAZ). Victoria Beach, a lifelong resident of Capitol Hill and chair of the Seattle Police Department African American Community Advisory Council, believes that these riots played a role in the 2023 shootings, as some criminals view the neighborhood as a lawless area where crime is tolerated or ignored.

Six people were shot in the CHAZ riots, two of whom died – both were black teens. Rapes, robberies, and murders spiked by 250% according to the Seattle Police Department. Seattle has since settled a multi-million dollar lawsuit with business owners and families of victims of the CHAZ riots, who have filed claims and sued the city.

According to the Seattle Police’s Crime Dashboard, there have been six cases of shots fired calls, non-fatal shootings, or fatal shootings in Capitol Hill since the beginning of 2023, compared to five cases in all of 2022. The total also represents more cases than all of 2019, 2020, and 2021 combined. Seattle’s violent crime rate reached a 15-year high in 2022, surpassing the record set in 2021. Violent crime increased by 4% compared to 2021, with a total of 49,577 violent and property crimes reported. Additionally, the department reported that aggravated assault and motor vehicle theft were “significantly” high in 2022 compared to the five-year average.

Over 600 officers have left the department since the city council defunded the police in 2020, with some officers terminated, retired or transferred due to the city’s COVID vaccine mandate. The lack of officers has led to staff shortages with some cases that are meant to be handled by the Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Unit remaining unassigned. 911 response times have also dramatically increased. 

The spike in crime has been attributed to the Democratic-controlled Washington State Legislature passing laws in 2021 restricting how law enforcement responds to an incident, including changes that affect how officers pursue after a suspect who is fleeing in a vehicle. Additionally, a revolving-door justice system releases prolific offenders with dozens of felony convictions, contributing to the ongoing problem.

In 2022, The Post Millennial revealed that Seattle firefighters have increasingly become the victims of violent and dangerous attacks.

In conclusion, the increase in shootings in Capitol Hill appears to be partially attributed to the 2020 riots and the CHAZ, as well as other factors such as restrictive laws and a revolving-door justice system. The lack of police officers has created staffing shortages and increased crime rates, which have negatively impacted the safety and quality of life of Capitol Hill residents.