RENTON, Wash. — One person was killed and another was taken to the hospital in critical condition after they were shot in Renton Wednesday afternoon.
According to the Renton Police Department, officers responded to a report of a shooting at a home on the 300 block of Wells Avenue North around 2:25 p.m. When officers arrived, they found two men who had been shot. Police said both men were believed to be in their 30s.
One of the men was pronounced dead at the scene. The man killed was found inside the home, while the other man shot was located outside and taken to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.
Police said multiple people were at the home when the shooting happened. Police have not identified a suspect. The shooting is being investigated as a homicide.
Neighbors said the home has been a nuisance for months, and they've repeatedly asked the city for help. Police said the landlord filed papers to evict the tenant, but neighbors argued that only happened after they threatened to pursue legal action.
"[I'm] angry,” said Aaron, a neighbor on the block for 20 years who preferred not to share his last name. “Angry that this is allowed to go on for so long."
Renton police confirmed the home is a rental and that police have received many complaints over several months.
"We've had disputes. We've had reports of possible drug activity, loud music. There's been lots of folks in and out," said Cyndie Morris with Renton police.
Neighbors said they met with police last week in hopes of addressing their concerns. Renton police increased their presence in the neighborhood and said the home is filed with the King County Eviction Unit. Once a court order is obtained, it can take approximately 50 days to serve an eviction order. The King County Eviction Unit said that is due to short staffing and the hazardous nature of serving eviction orders.
“Just with the court systems being as bogged down as they are, it takes delays,” said Morris. “They were rounding the corner to having a physical eviction here real soon.”
Still, neighbors are upset things got to the point where a person was killed after so many calls for help.
“I talk to the police, and it just gets me frustrated and angry that they can't do anything," said Aaron.
"We're going to respond within the confines of our authority, but when it comes to managing private properties, like a rental, that's up to the landlord," said Morris.