A U.S. Postal Service letter carrier was shot Friday, October 3, outside the West Mall Place Apartments in south Everett, Washington. Police said the suspected shooter is a package delivery driver who was taken into custody at the scene, and there is no ongoing threat to the public. The postal worker was transported by medics for treatment.
Everett officers responded just before 1 p.m. to reports of gunfire at the complex off West Mall Drive, across from Everett Mall. Initial updates from local outlets indicated the victim was taken to Providence Regional Medical Center. Later Friday, additional local reporting said the carrier was transferred to Seattle’s Harborview Medical Center.
While police initially described the suspect only as a “package delivery driver,” photos and witness accounts from the scene showed an Amazon-branded delivery van behind crime-scene tape and later being towed. Neighbors told reporters the driver worked Amazon routes in the area.
Local outlets also reported the letter carrier sustained a gunshot wound to the face before being transferred to Harborview, and that the suspect was booked into the Snohomish County Jail on suspicion of first-degree assault. Because the victim is a federal employee, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and FBI joined the investigation alongside Everett police.
What sparked the confrontation remains under investigation, but witness accounts relayed by local media describe a dispute that began as verbal back-and-forth near cluster mailboxes and escalated into a shoving match before the shot was fired. Authorities have not announced formal charges beyond the initial booking, and officials have not released an updated medical status for the carrier.
Why this matters for last-mile carriers: The shooting highlights a growing friction point in dense multifamily delivery zones, where USPS, Amazon DSPs and other carriers overlap on tight schedules, limited parking and constrained access around mailrooms. Operationally, that mix increases the chance of confrontations when carriers are under time pressure and property rules restrict movement while mail compartments are open.
For trucking and parcel operators—especially Amazon Delivery Service Partners—this incident is likely to prompt immediate safety stand‑downs, route briefings and renewed emphasis on de‑escalation. Clear rules of engagement at shared delivery points can reduce flashpoints: codify “yield” protocols around USPS mail clusters, require drivers to stage away from open mailrooms, and escalate disputes through property managers rather than on‑scene confrontation. Supervisors should reinforce that any altercation near secured postal equipment can draw federal scrutiny, raising stakes for drivers and contractors alike.
The investigation is continuing. As charging decisions are finalized, carriers operating in the region should anticipate short‑term routing or access adjustments at the complex and potentially broader apartment-management directives around delivery bays and mailbox lobbies. Company leaders would be wise to document local policies with property owners, post shared‑area signage, and add scenario‑based training that prioritizes disengagement over schedule adherence when conflicts arise.
Sources: FreightWaves, KIRO 7 News Seattle, My Everett News, The Daily Herald (Everett), FOX 13 Seattle, Seen In Everett
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