Seattle Police investigate early morning shooting outside Pioneer Square bar after masked gunman demands inexpensive necklace and opens fire

Seattle, Washington – A late-night robbery in Seattle’s Pioneer Square turned violent early this morning, leaving a 23-year-old man hospitalized after being shot over a necklace valued at about $20.

Police say the incident unfolded around 12:40 a.m. in the 500 block of 2nd Avenue. Patrol officers were dispatched to reports of gunfire and arrived to find the victim bleeding from a gunshot wound to his right thigh. Officers and personnel from the Seattle Fire Department provided immediate medical aid at the scene. The injured man was then transported to Harborview Medical Center, where he was listed in stable condition.

According to investigators, the victim had just exited a nearby bar and was getting into the passenger seat of a friend’s car when he was approached by a suspect. The assailant, described as wearing a ski mask and armed with a firearm, confronted the man and demanded his necklace. What began as a brief encounter quickly escalated into a struggle over the chain.

During the confrontation, the suspect fired a shot, striking the victim in the leg. Authorities say the shooter then fled the area in a vehicle, taking the necklace. The item at the center of the violence is believed to be worth approximately $20.

Detectives with the Seattle Police Department’s Robbery Unit responded both to the crime scene and to Harborview Medical Center as part of the investigation. Officers are working to gather evidence and determine the circumstances leading up to the shooting.

Police are asking anyone with information about the incident to contact the SPD Violent Crimes Tip Line at 206-233-5000. Anonymous tips are accepted. The case is being investigated under Incident Number 2026-57536.