Jennifer Sullivan, Seattle Times
July 13, 2006
Zenebe Worota had just walked out of the Blue Nile Ethiopian Restaurant and Bar near Seattle University early Wednesday morning when he saw a friend being attacked by a group described as well-known neighborhood bullies.
When Worota and another man ran over to intervene, gunfire erupted, wounding Worota and killing the other man.
Seattle police are searching for a woman they believe fired the gunshots, said spokesman Sean Whitcomb. Another woman and three men present when the melee broke out are also being sought, police said.
Tireuneh Haila, of Seattle, said he was on the phone with Worota when gunfire broke out.
"He was talking to me on the phone and after a few seconds he said, 'They shot me,' " Haila said Wednesday while standing inside an Ethiopian grocery next to the Blue Nile restaurant.
Worota, 30, a driver for Orange Cab, is expected to survive. The other man, who police say was 39, died near the intersection of East Jefferson Street and 12th Avenue. The man's name was not released.
Haila, who is Ethiopian, said he believed the victims were targeted because of their race. Worota emigrated from Ethiopia, and the other man from Eritrea. They said their attackers were African American.
"This is a community disaster," said Emanuel Habte, of Seattle. He said the attacks have made him feel unsafe in the First Hill neighborhood.
Police declined to say whether they believed race was a motive in the shootings.
Habte and Haila said they know the alleged female shooter as well as others who were with her Wednesday morning. They believe the group is responsible for attacking another of their friends recently.
Haila said the woman approached one of his friends outside the Blue Nile restaurant shortly before the 2:09 a.m. shootings. He said the friend told him that the woman punched him for no apparent reason.
As news of the shootings spread, people showed up at the Arada Center grocery to show support for the Ethiopian and Eritrean communities.
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Jennifer Sullivan: 206-464-8294 or jensullivan@seattletimes.com
