On the morning of May 7, 2026, the body of 35-year-old Miracle McKenzie was found inside a tent at a South Seattle encampment near Cheasty Boulevard South and South Winthrop Street. Seattle police responded just before 9 a.m.; the King County Medical Examiner’s Office later ruled the death a homicide, listing a gunshot wound to the chest as the cause.

Seattle homicide detectives led the investigation and publicized a violent-crimes tip line as they documented the scene and collected evidence. Detectives conducted a targeted operation with the department’s SWAT team and Gun Violence Reduction Unit, and on May 12, 2026, a 46-year-old man was taken into custody and booked into the King County Jail for investigation of murder. Prosecutors will review the case for possible formal charges and detectives continue to gather evidence and interview witnesses.

If anyone saw activity around the encampment that morning or has information about the shooting, please contact the Seattle Police Department’s violent-crimes tip line.