A man was shot dead and another seriously injured in a 'police-free' autonomous zone created by protesters in Seattle, where police officers were prevented from accessing the victims, officials said.
The area, set up as part of the nationwide protest movement following the death of unarmed African American George Floyd at the hands of a white police officer, has been a frequent target of US President Donald Trump.
He has called it a "disaster" and said people there are anarchists from the "radical left."
For nearly two weeks, protesters and activists have occupied the western city's Capitol Hill neighbourhood, establishing an area described as a 'no cop' zone - an urban experiment mostly carried out with a festival-like atmosphere.
"Officers attempted to locate a shooting victim but were met by a violent crowd that prevented officers safe access to the victims," the Seattle Police Department said in a statement.
Police, who arrived at the scene around 2.30am, were later told that the pair had been transported to the hospital by the zone's "medics," where one of the victims, a 19-year-old man, was declared dead.
The other victim, also a male "remains in the hospital with life-threatening injuries," the police department said.
Police said the shooter or shooters remained at large and that they had no description of a potential suspect.
The Seattle Times reported that the shooting was not believed to be connected to the protest.
Officers' body cam footage showed the police being confronted by the protesters who kept them from entering the area.
Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan defended the zone on Thursday after Mr Trump threatened to intervene, while Governor of Washington State Jay Inslee told the president that a "man who is totally incapable of governing should stay out of Washington state's business."
At a rally last night in Oklahoma, Mr Trump referenced the episode again telling supporters: "I have an offer out. I said anytime you want we'll come in, we'll straighten it out in one hour or less.
"Now I may be wrong but it's probably better for us to just watch that disaster," Mr Trump said.
Officials in Seattle have denied reports that left-wing activists are behind the setting up of the autonomous zone.
One dead, 11 injured in Minneapolis shooting
One person died and 11 were injured in a shooting in Minneapolis in the early hours of this morning, according to a tweet the Minneapolis Police department.
** SHOOT UPDATE **
— Minneapolis Police (@MinneapolisPD) June 21, 2020
12 people have suffered gunshot wounds in an incident on 2900 block of Hennepin S. 1 adult male died and 11 have no -life-threatening wounds
"One adult male died and 11 have no -life-threatening wounds," police said in the tweet.
Further details about the shooting was not immediately available.
