There were two deadly shootings in occupied Black Lives Matter protest zones over the weekend, one in Seattle’s “autonomous zone” and the other in an occupied park in Louisville, Kentucky.
One person is dead and a 14-year-old is in critical condition following a shooting in the “CHOP” or “CHAZ” occupied area in Seattle. There were reports on the ground that the victims were shot by CHAZ “security.”
According to witnesses, a white SUV drove into Cal Anderson Park in an attempted drive by shooting and CHOP “security” returned fire. CHOP “security” is made up of armed of armed protesters.
However, from pictures on the scene, the windows of the SUV appear to have been rolled up at the time they were shot out calling into question the initial reports.
Another shooting in #CHOP overnight. Witnesses report that a white SUV drove into Cal Anderson Park firing shots, then armed protesters (acting as CHOP security) opened fire on the SUV. Two in critical at Harborview. @SeattlePD is investigating. #Q13FOX pic.twitter.com/7YaayKqsur
— Brandi Kruse (@BrandiKruse) June 29, 2020
The aftermath of the second deadly shooting at Seattle’s “CHAZ” show blood and bullet holes all over the ground and car.
“CHAZ” is three weeks old today. https://t.co/xuuxqycjQU
— Andy Ngô 🏳️🌈 (@MrAndyNgo) June 29, 2020
According to King5.com, one of the victims had gunshot wounds to his hip, arm, and temple. The individual is the second person in a week to die of a gunshot would from within the occupied zone. Six people have now been shot in the CHAZ in a total of four shootings.
During an interview with a trans activist at the Seattle “autonomous zone,” live rounds were fired in the background.
Last week, multiple shootings at the police-free antifa/BLM zone resulted in one dead & 3 injured. https://t.co/xoYj7ZGQVe
— Andy Ngô 🏳️🌈 (@MrAndyNgo) June 29, 2020
There are no suspect descriptions to report at this time.
The CHOP zone was supposed to be dismantled last week, but after encountering resistance from armed agitators, authorities backed off, the Post Millennial reported.
The shooting comes as CHOP faces an uncertain future. On Friday, crews from the Seattle Department of Transportation arrived to begin dismantling CHOP but they were met by protesters. According to one report, occupiers pulled a gun on them.
The city’s crews sat around all day Friday and eventually left as negotiations continued between various protests groups and Mayor Jenny Durkan. The crews did not return over the weekend.
Protesters in Louisville have occupied Jefferson Square Park for the past month to protest the death Breonna Taylor, who was shot and killed by police in her home during a drug raid that resulted in a shootout with other occupants of the house.
Steven Nelson Lopez, 23, is facing “charges of murder and first-degree wanton endangerment for killing Tyler Gerth, a 27-year-old Louisville photographer, Saturday night.
A cell-phone video shows Lopez shooting Gerth in the face at close range. Fellow protesters returned fire, wounding Lopez in the leg.
Although some in the media initially reported that Lopez was a “white supremacist,” he has been a frequent participant in “Louisville’s month of protests,” according to local media.
Steven Nelson Lopez has been in police custody since the shooting occurred Saturday around 9 p.m. https://t.co/KIvW1zNuqC
— WYMT (@WYMT) June 29, 2020
Earlier this month, Lopez was arrested on two separate occasions in Louisville for offenses that include, rioting, disorderly conduct, and unlawful assembly.
On June 17th Lopez was arrested for inciting a riot, disorderly conduct, harassment and buying/possessing drug paraphernalia. Just two days later, records show Lopez was arrested yet again on June 19th. Those charges included unlawful assembly and disorderly conduct.
Lopez had reportedly been asked to leave the premises, earlier Saturday by other protesters for his “disruptive behavior.”