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Man drives into Seattle George Floyd protest, shoots one protester

A 27-year-old man was taken to the hospital after being shot, police said.
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A man drove into a Seattle crowd protesting the death of George Floyd in police custody before shooting one of the demonstrators Sunday, police said.

A suspect was detained and a 27-year-old man who was shot in the arm was taken to a hospital by firefighters, police said in a tweet. Officials did not name the suspect or the victim.

Police confirmed that a gun was recovered and that no one else was injured.

Image: Seattle shooting scene
Medics tend to a man who was shot in the arm by the driver of a black vehicle at a protest against racial inequality in Seattle on Sunday, June 7, 2020.Lindsey Wasson / Reuters

Video shared on Twitter by a bystander showed a man emerging from a vehicle that appeared to have struck a barricade at an intersection. The driver appeared to be carrying a gun in one hand as he ran into the crowd. The sound of what appeared to be gunshots could be heard on video from the scene.

A witness told NBC affiliate KING that the victim had tried to stop the vehicle from driving into the crowd before the driver shot him. NBC News was not been able to confirm the account.

Full coverage of George Floyd's death and protests around the country

Police, who later tried to disperse the protesters, said on Twitter that some people had thrown projectiles and fireworks at officers. Police said some demonstrators had shone green lasers in officers' eyes.

Police said they were responding with pepper spray and blast balls. Police also authorized the use of tear gas.

It followed tense demonstrations Saturday when police used flash-bang devices and pepper spray to disperse protesters after rocks, bottles and explosives were thrown at officers.

The mayor and the police chief had said they were trying to de-escalate tensions.

The protest was one of many demonstrations nationwide sparked by the death of Floyd, the African American man who was killed May 25 while in police custody in Minneapolis. Although protesters clashed with police in Seattle, most demonstrations elsewhere over the weekend — including a gathering of thousands at the nation's capital — were peaceful.

The shift in tone followed many demonstrations that took ugly turns with incidents of arson, assault and looting, leading some cities to impose curfews. At least 10,000 people have been arrested in relation to the protests, according to tracking by The Associated Press.