Seattle manhunt: Gunman sought in deadly gas station shooting near Space Needle
SEATTLE - Police are seeking the public's help to find a suspect who shot and killed a gas station clerk near the Space Needle last week.
(Seattle Police Department)
Seattle gas station murder suspect: 33-year-old Michael Oneal Fleming
What we know:
The Seattle Police Department is looking for 33-year-old Michael Oneal Fleming. He is believed to be armed and dangerous. Anyone who sees him is urged not to approach him, and instead call 911.
Fleming is described as a Black man with a heavy build. He stands at about 5'8", and at the time of the shooting, he was wearing a black hoodie, black coat, black pants and a black cross-body bag.
On Tuesday, the King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office told FOX 13 Seattle that Oneal Fleming was charged with first-degree murder. According to the court documents, Oneal Fleming is believed to have fled to Chicago after the shooting.
According to charging documents, it is alleged that Oneal Fleming shot his former co-worker multiple times for no apparent reason.
Ongoing murder investigation in Kenosha, Wisconsin
On Tuesday morning, police in Kenosha, Wisconsin posted a flyer on their Facebook page that Oneal Fleming had been spotted there.
According to documents, Kenosha officers discovered a couple dead from apparent gunshot wounds inside their home Monday following a request for a welfare check.
Officers found Rodney Brushwood and his wife, Rena Oneal, dead at their residence at 5524 Washington Rd. after Brushwood’s employee reported he had not been seen for several days. Preliminary findings indicate the couple had been deceased for multiple days before their discovery, according to a Seattle Police Department probable cause certification.
Investigators interviewed Anthony Oneal Fleming, identified as the twin brother of suspect Michael Oneal Fleming, who reported recent text messages showing Michael Oneal Fleming was acting erratically and experiencing a mental health crisis.
Anthony Oneal Fleming told detectives that Michael Oneal Fleming had asked him for their parents' address, which he refused to provide. Anthony Oneal Fleming reported that their mother said Michael Oneal Fleming was in Chicago.
No witnesses were present at the scene, and the multi-agency investigation remains ongoing.
Michael Oneal Fleming is considered as a person of interest in this case.
Clerk shot, killed by customer inside gas station near Seattle Space Needle
The backstory:
At around 5:50 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 13, police responded to the 76 gas station near the corner of Broad Street and 3rd Avenue after a customer found the clerk lying behind the counter. The Seattle Fire Department arrived and confirmed that the victim, a man in his 30s, had died at the scene.
Police reviewed security camera footage and released a suspect's description.
Police: The shooting was not a robbery; the suspect was a customer
Investigators said the suspect purchased a drink and was able to get behind the counter before attacking and shooting the clerk. Shortly after, the suspect left the scene on foot.
What we don't know:
It is unknown if the suspect got into a car and drove away after walking out of the store. The circumstances leading up to the shooting are also under investigation.
What they're saying:
Police said this is a concerning case given the details they currently have about what happened.
"We don't know if this was random or targeted," said Detective Pritchard. "You know, they came into the store, they purchased an item – like I said – didn't take anything, so it wasn't a robbery. So, we're trying to find out if it was targeted or not."
The killing has heightened safety concerns among local residents who note a recent pattern of violence in the surrounding area, including the Bite of Seattle shooting and nearby street racing incidents involving gunfire.
"It's shocking to see this kind of activity being allowed right next to let's call it the prized center of Seattle," said neighborhood resident Santosh Yelavarthy, adding that he feels sorry for the clerk in what he called a sad situation.
What you can do:
Anyone with information is asked to dial 911. If you wish to remain anonymous, submit a tip to Crime Stoppers through the P3 Tips App on your phone or call 1-800-222-TIPS. You can also submit the info at P3Tips.com.
Crime Stoppers is offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to his arrest.
This is a developing story, and will be updated.
The Source: Information in this story comes from a social media post by the Seattle Police Department, King County Prosecutors, a Facebook post from the Kenosha, Wisconsin Police Department, probable cause documents from the Seattle Police Department, statements made by the SPD's public information officer at the scene and original reporting by FOX 13 Seattle.
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