Some tragic news out of Seattle, where a beloved community leader, widely known as one of the "beating hearts" of the Chinatown International District, was shot and killed early Thursday morning.
Donnie Chin, Chinatown ID's 'frontline hero,' killed in early morning shooting
Police found 59-year-old Donald "Donnie" Chin, director of the International District Emergency Center, critically wounded inside a car with shot-out windows. He was rushed to the hospital, where he died a short time later. Police do not believe he was the intended target of the shooting.
Chin is remembered as a leader, builder and organizer who dedicated his life to serving and protecting the Chinatown International District, from youth to seniors and other vulnerable members of the community.
Chin had patrolled the streets of Chinatown-International District since he was in junior high school after finding that private ambulance companies were slow to respond to 911 calls, according to a 1991 Seattle Times story. The story recounted how Chin had the respect of medics, residents and business owners and was welcomed when he responded to 911 calls that were relayed over his police scanner.
Dr. Michael Copass, the former director of Emergency Services at Harborview and former medical director of Seattle Medic One, said in 1991, that Chin often beat paramedics to trauma victims and even "started CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) more than any one person in town."
"He's sort of like a protector of the people in the International District," Copass said.
No arrests have been made, but Seattle Police Chief Kathleen O'Toole said the department will "work tirelessly to bring his killer to justice." Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call the SPD homicide tip line at 206-233-5000.
More here: Donald Chin spent life protecting, serving the Chinatown International District