A Bellevue woman was one of five killed in a one-man shooting spree in Seattle Wednesday. Only one victim survived the shootings, and when police found the killer, he took his own life.
Gloria Koch Leonidas, 52, was shot at approximately 11:30 a.m. near Town Hall at Eighth and Seneca Streets in Seattle.
Witnesses saw the woman arguing with the shooter, Ian L. Stawicki, in a parking lot. He shot the woman in the head, police say. He then fled the scene in Leonidas’ black Mercedes SUV. A witness attempted to revive Leonidas, but she was pronounced dead at the scene.
Several hours later, police found the vehicle in West Seattle at the 4100 block of Delridge Way Southwest.
Earlier in the day, the man entered Cafe Racer Espresso at the 5800 block of Roosevelt Way at approximately 11 a.m., and opened fire. Two men were killed at the scene, while two more people died after being taken to Harborview Medical Center.
Police do not know the motive of the man, who shot himself in the head when police caught up with him at 37th and Raymond, approximately two miles away from where he ditched the SUV.
Throughout the day, police would not say whether the two shootings were related, but witness testimony helped police connect the two cases.
“One of the items that witnesses saw at Eighth and Seneca is on him now,” Seattle Police Asst. Chief Jim Pugel said. “We now feel confident in connecting the two.”
Stawicki had been ejected from the cafe a couple of times in the past, police said.
Following the shooting, the Ravenna neighborhood was basically shut down. Police went from door to door, attempting to find the man. Officers repeated the same procedure in West Seattle when the stolen car was found.
Officers were able to find the man after a five-hour manhunt. When he was located, Stawicki got down on his knees and shot himself in the head. He lived through the initial impact but died later Wednesday night at Harborview Medical Center.