SEATTLE - A gunman killed five people in Seattle -- four at a cafe and another in a carjacking -- before he apparently shot himself as officers closed in following a citywide manhunt, authorities said.
The suspect died later Wednesday at Harborview Medical Center, hospital spokeswoman Susan Gregg said. A King County medical examiner's spokeswoman said her office might be able to release identifications Thursday of the five people killed.
Police who began scouring the area for the person who opened fire at the cafe near the University of Washington responded a short time later to another fatal shooting near the city's downtown. They say a man killed a woman in an apparent carjacking and fled in a black SUV.
Police said late Wednesday they believe one man was responsible for both attacks.
"At this time, we feel pretty confident that we have the suspect," said Assistant Seattle Police Chief Nick Metz.
The Seattle Times identified the suspect as Ian Lee Stawicki, 40, citing unidentified law enforcement sources. Seattle police Sgt. Sean Whitcomb said he couldn't confirm the name and said police would not publicly identify the suspect Wednesday night.
Andrew Stawicki, 29, told the Times he recognized a photo shown on TV newscasts of the alleged gunman as his brother Ian. Andrew Stawicki said Ian Stawicki was mentally ill.
"It's no surprise to me this happened," he told the newspaper. "We could see this coming. Nothing good is going to come with that much anger inside of you."
A phone number for Andrew Stawicki rang busy when The Associated Press tried to reach him for comment.
Gunfire erupted late Wednesday morning at Cafe Racer, a restaurant and music venue north of the University of Washington.
Police released two photos from inside the cafe, apparently taken from a security camera. One shows a man walking into the establishment, with a woman nearby reading a book. Another photo shows stools overturned, and the man standing and holding what appears to be a handgun.
Two men died at the scene, and a third man and a woman from the cafe died at a hospital.
One man wounded in the cafe shooting was upgraded from critical to serious condition Thursday. Gregg confirmed his name as Leonard Meuse. Meuse's father, Raymond Meuse, told the Times his son was shot in the jaw and armpit but was expected to survive.
Police said it appears the gunman fled to the First Hill neighbourhood near downtown, where he fatally shot a woman in a parking lot and stole her SUV.
Police believe the gunman drove the SUV to West Seattle and ditched it, leaving a gun in the car. Late on Wednesday afternoon, a plainclothes detective spotted the cafe suspect and called for uniformed officers and a SWAT team, Assistant Police Chief Jim Pugel said.
As those officers arrived, the man put a gun to his head and pulled the trigger, Pugel said.
