The Capitol Hill Massacre: A Tragic Night in Seattle
The Capitol Hill massacre was a mass shooting that occurred on March 25, 2006, in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Seattle, Washington. The perpetrator, Kyle Aaron Huff, opened fire at a rave afterparty, killing six people and injuring two before turning the gun on himself.
The incident began when Huff attended a rave called "Better Off Undead" at the Capitol Hill Arts Center. After the rave, he followed a group of attendees to a house party at 2112 E. Republican Street. At around 7 a.m., Huff left the party briefly, only to return armed with a 12-gauge shotgun and a Ruger P95 9mm semi-automatic pistol. He opened fire, killing six people and injuring two others. The victims ranged in age from 14 to 32. After the shooting spree, Huff committed suicide on the porch of the house.
The house where the tragedy occurred has since been painted green, and new tenants have moved in. The bathroom door that Huff shot through was given to friends of the victims and was later burned at the Burning Man festival. The incident remains one of the deadliest mass shootings in Seattle's history and has had a lasting impact on the community.
Kyle Aaron Huff was a 28-year-old who had moved to Seattle from Whitefish, Montana. He had no criminal record and was not known to have any mental health issues. The motive behind the massacre remains unclear, although a letter left behind by Huff mentioned his disdain for rave culture.
The Capitol Hill massacre reignited debates about gun control, mental health, and the safety of social gatherings like raves. It also led to increased security measures at similar events in the Seattle area.
