Seattle police investigating possible homicide in U District

Nov. 6, 2026 at 7:38 pm Updated Nov. 6, 2026 at 10:37 pm

A woman was killed and a man was gravely injured Friday in Seattle’s University District in what police are saying is a domestic violence homicide and attempted suicide.

Police responded to reports of a shooting in the 4500 block of University Way NE just before 7 p.m. They believe a man shot and killed a woman before attempting to shoot himself, according to a Seattle Police Department news release.

The woman was pronounced dead at the scene with a suspected gunshot wound. A man who police believe shot the woman was found in the street nearby with a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

The man was taken to Harborview Medical Center for treatment, but he is not expected to survive his wounds, according to police.

Assistant Police Chief Tyrone Davis said police are unsure what led up to the shooting. The homicide unit is investigating the shooting.

Police are not searching for additional suspects and do not believe there are additional risks to the community.

The University of Washington issued an alert to avoid the area near 47th Street and University Way NE around 7 p.m. Friday, confirming there was no threat to the public.

The university also confirmed Seattle police have secured the scene, and nobody involved in the shooting was affiliated with the university.

Just after 8 p.m., Davis provided more details about the shooting outside rows of shops on University Avenue. The crime scene had been taped off, and dozens gathered to listen.

“This is obviously a tragic situation here,” he said in a video uploaded by Fox 13 . “This is Friday night. This is a very public area here at The University of Washington, so this is obviously something we don’t want to see happen.”

Ann Duan : aduan@seattletimes.com . Ann Duan is a metro intern at The Seattle Times, covering a range of local news. She previously interned at The Daily Herald in Everett, The Olympian and U.S. News & World Report.

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