



HOOD CANAL, Wash. -- The Washington State Patrol said the driver who opened fire at cars stopped around him at the Hood Canal Bridge Tuesday morning before apparently taking his own life was a 20-year-old man from New Jersey who was a suspect in a woman's brutal murder in Renton.



The shooting happened at 3:42 a.m. Three cars were stopped on SR 104 at the west end of the Hood Canal Bridge, waiting for it to reopen after overnight construction. Troopers say the person in the middle car of the three shot at the car in front of and behind him.



Photos shared on Twitter showed bullet holes through both windshields. Click through the gallery below:







The driver behind him suffered a minor injury to his elbow. Trooper Chelsea Hodgson says that man was asleep when the shots were fired.



The car in front of them had a father and his 5- and 6-year-old daughters in the car. The shots missed both girls who were asleep, Hodgson said. One bullet went through the driver's seat headrest, but missed the father because he was leaning toward the passenger seat.



The man in the middle car then apparently died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, Hodgson said.



Late Tuesday, the Washington State Patrol identified the gunman as Krishna Mahadevan-Prasad, 20, of New Jersey. The State Patrol said Mahadevan-Prasad was wanted by the Renton Police Department as the suspect in the murder of a 38-year-old Bellevue woman, who was found dead in a Renton motel Monday.



"Due to the nature of the crime," the State Patrol said, "the Renton Police Department is seeking public assistance learning about Mahadevan-Prasad's activities the days leading up to the murder. Anyone with information is encouraged the contact the Renton Police Department at (425) 430-7573."



The Renton Police Department said later Tuesday that the body of the slain woman was discovered in a motel room on Lake Washington Boulevard at about 2 p.m. Monday.



Investigators said the Bellevue woman had suffered numerous cut wounds to her body, "including what appeared to be intentional mutilation occurring after death," Renton police said in a news release. And police had reason to believe Mahadevan-Prasad was the suspect. Renton police issued warrants for him and his 1995 Honda Accord wagon.



The murder victim was not immediately identified.



"The circumstances of the Renton homicide have investigators concerned that Mahadevan-Prasad may be responsible for other acts of violence," Renton police said. "Mahadevan-Prasad was active duty military and his travels are unknown."



The Renton Police Department asked the public to call them if they know of the man's activities in the days leading up to Monday's murder and during the time between the murder and his death Tuesday morning.