A deadly shooting took place in a Costco parking lot in Tukwila, Washington, on the morning of Friday, January 26, 2024. The incident has led to a thorough investigation by local law enforcement.
The Tukwila Police Department received a call regarding a shooting at the Costco Wholesale store at 1100 Andover Park East at around 10:41 a.m.
Officers who arrived on the scene discovered the victim, 67-year-old Yuam Ming of Tukwila, suffering from gunshot wounds to her chest. Despite immediate attempts at life-saving procedures, Ming was declared dead at the scene.
Witnesses described the suspect as a male who escaped the scene in a white sedan after the shooting. While no detailed information about the suspect’s identity or motive has been released, preliminary reports hint at a potential link to a robbery.
The surrounding area was sealed off as the investigation started, with evidence being collected and witness interviews taking place.
This incident marks the second shooting in Tukwila within a 12-hour span and the second killing in a parking lot in the past two weeks. Earlier, on January 15, a 34-year-old taxi driver, Nick Hokema, was found fatally stabbed in the Southcenter Mall parking lot.
A shopper, who arrived at the Costco near midday, described the area as heavily occupied by law enforcement. Other patrons expressed their discomfort with the event, considering it took place in a typically bustling and family-oriented setting.
In the wake of the shooting, the Costco store closed its doors around 1 p.m., earlier than its usual closing time, to support the ongoing police investigation.
Surveillance cameras installed in the parking lot could provide key evidence in identifying the suspect. However, it remains unconfirmed by Tukwila Police whether the suspect was caught on these cameras.
The Tukwila Police Department assured that more details would be made public as they come to light. They also made a public appeal for any information that could help in the ongoing investigation and apprehension of the suspect.
