Tukwila police arrested a man early Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2023 after he allegedly shot at a group of people at a bus stop, then assaulted two of them.
It all started at 12:30 a.m. Wednesday morning when officers heard a loud noise coming from the east side main entrance of the Tukwila police station. Officers went to investigate and observed an entire window broken with what appeared to be a bullet hole inside the glass and what appeared to be a bullet hole inside the wall to the restrooms.
Upon further investigation, officers located an assault in progress directly across the street from the station on the east side of Tukwila International Blvd.
The assault happened at a bus stop on the east side of Tukwila International Boulevard. Witnesses told police that a man, later identified as Melvin O’Brien, 21, began shooting at the group from across the street.
One of the victims told police that he heard bullets whizzing by him. He also said that O’Brien ran toward the group, holding what appeared to be a handgun.
Mouton said that O’Brien began yelling at another victim and accused her of sabotaging his drug sales. He then punched her in the head and stole her backpack, which contained a cell phone and whiskey.
Police officers responded to the scene and found the suspect running away. They chased him to an Arco AM/PM convenience store, where he was detained without incident.
The two witnesses both positively identified O’Brien as the suspect. He was booked into the King County Jail on suspicion of assault, robbery, and unlawful possession of a firearm.
A police dog search was conducted, but no gun was found. However, an officer reported seeing an item believed to be the gun discarded during the initial foot chase. A victim’s backpack was later recovered at the south side of the Arco AM/PM.
O’Brien has not yet been arraigned on the charges. His bail has been set at $50,000.
The investigation is ongoing.
