Seattle woke up to tragedy on Wednesday when gunshots rang out in the Northgate neighborhood, leaving a young man dead and a community shaken. The scene unfolded in the parking lot of a hotel near Northgate Way and Meridian Avenue North, where police found a 20-year-old man with a gunshot wound to the chest. First responders fought to save him, but he was later pronounced dead at the scene.
Locals say the victim was known by the name “Scooterverz,” though authorities have not yet confirmed that identity officially. Seattle Police confirmed that their officers arrived shortly after reports of shots fired, only to be met with a grim discovery. No suspect has been apprehended, and the motive remains elusive.
Investigators have been combing through the scene for hours. Crime Scene Investigators (CSI) collected evidence, while homicide detectives pieced together timelines, interviewed witnesses, and reviewed security footage. So far, none of the leads have produced a solid suspect or clear motive. Police are proceeding carefully, trying to avoid jumping to conclusions.
The King County Medical Examiner’s Office has not released the victim’s full identity, citing the ongoing investigation and need to notify next of kin. Meanwhile, police are urging any witnesses or those with information to come forward. They can contact the Seattle PD Violent Crimes Tip Line at (206) 233-5000 or submit anonymous tips through Crime Stoppers.
This shooting follows a pattern of violence in North Seattle, though each incident carries its own weight and consequences. Earlier in 2025, detectives and the SWAT team arrested a suspect in a separate Northgate transit shooting that claimed another life after a suspect allegedly opened fire at a light-rail station. That case continues through the courts.
For now, the Northgate community faces grief and uncertainty. A young man’s life was cut short under mysterious circumstances; questions linger about who did this and why. As Seattle Police press on with their investigation, the hope remains that someone out there holds the missing pieces—and will step forward.