A homicide investigation is underway after a taproom employee was found shot dead in Seattle’s Lake City neighborhood.
A Lake City taproom in Seattle became the scene of a deadly shooting Saturday morning, after an employee was found inside the business and later died from gunshot wounds.
Police responded to a report of a man down at The Growler Guys on N.E. 85th Street and Lake City Way N.E. in the Lake City neighborhood. Officers arrived after a co-worker found the victim when they came to work just before 9 a.m. Saturday.
Investigators said the man had been shot several times. As the homicide investigation continues, the medical examiner is working to determine both the cause and the manner of death.
The taproom owner, Kelly Dole, described the victim as a beloved member of his staff, a man in his 20s whose nickname was “Q.” Dole told KIRO 7 that Q was part of a tight-knit group of young men, including Dole’s son, and that he was a key part of the community around the business.
Seattle Police Department Detective Eric Munoz said the death has been especially difficult for the family and for the neighborhood. He characterized the taproom as a well-known, respected local staple, and said the situation is traumatic for everyone connected to the area.
According to Dole, it’s believed Q closed down the business Friday night. Dole said he believes Q left after closing, but later came back to the taproom several hours afterwards. Dole also said he believed Q may have been followed.
In the hours after the shooting was reported, friends, family members, and co-workers gathered at the taproom to pay their respects. Many left bouquets of flowers on the ground in front of the business.
Inside the building, police worked to collect evidence and review surveillance footage. Investigators said they still do not know the identity of the suspect or what the motive might be.
Police have not made any arrests. Dole said the staff is heartbroken and that he is confident investigators will find the person responsible, telling KIRO 7 that “there is no way this person is going to get away with this.”
The business will be closed through the weekend and possibly longer, Dole said, as staff and the surrounding community process the loss. Anyone with information was asked to call Seattle Police Department’s violent crimes tip line at (206) 233-5000.
Beyond the immediate crime scene. the killing has underlined how quickly a routine start to a workday can become a neighborhood crisis.. With investigators gathering evidence and examining video from the location. the next steps will likely focus on reconstructing Q’s movements—especially the period after Friday closing—so police can understand why he returned and whether there was a connection to Dole’s belief that he was followed.
For local residents, the response has been both public and personal.. The flowers left outside the taproom reflect how deeply many people viewed Q not just as an employee. but as part of the social fabric that made the venue a community stop—something echoed by Munoz’s remarks about the business being a neighborhood staple.
As the medical examiner finalizes determinations about the cause and manner of death. the case will hinge on what investigators can connect to the surveillance footage and the evidence collected inside.. Until more details are released. the investigation remains focused on identifying a suspect and establishing a motive—two elements police say they still do not have.
Lake City taproom shooting Seattle homicide investigation The Growler Guys Q nickname violent crimes tip line Seattle Police Department