Cafe Racer, site of 2012 Seattle shooting, asks for help staying open

SEATTLE -- A Seattle coffee shop that was the site of a 2012 shooting is asking for the public's help to stay open.

Our news partner The Seattle Times reports that Cafe Racer in the University District has launched a GoFundMe campaign in hopes of staying open.

The coffee shop was where Ian Stawicki shot and killed four people and injured another on May 31, 2012. He later killed a fifth person and shot himself.

Cafe Racer owner Kurt Geissel says debt incurred refitting and re-permitting after the shooting as well as ongoing construction nearby has left the business financially crippled.

As of Monday, the cafe has raised almost $20,000 of its $50,000 goal.