2 in custody following UW protest shooting released

SEATTLE – University of Washington police say two people taken into custody after a campus shooting Friday night have been released.

Seattle police said a man was shot in the abdomen during a demonstration outside Kane Hall where far-right commentator Milo Yiannopoulos with Breitbart News addressed a crowd inside.

The Seattle Times reported that police inside the event as the talk ended were keeping the audience in the room, saying “It’s a very volatile situation right now.” The newspaper said Yiannopoulos was whisked offstage.

Police Maj. Steve Rittereiser said in a news release Saturday afternoon that police investigated and after consulting with King County prosecutors, released the two pending further investigation. He said police are not seeking other suspects.

Harborview Medical Center spokeswoman Susan Gregg said the man was in critical but stable condition Saturday morning. She said he is 34 years old.

Rittereiser said a suspect, accompanied by another person, turned himself into UW police after the shooting and both were taken into custody.

People marching against President Donald Trump had joined the Yiannopoulos demonstration at UW just prior to the shooting.

Yiannopoulos writes for right-wing Breitbart News and is known for leading a harassment campaign that resulted in a lifetime ban from Twitter. He was set to speak at Washington State University on Thursday, but the event was canceled due to weather and travel conditions on Interstate 90.