Law enforcement officials said the incident began between midnight and 1 a.m. when the suspect came to the MVP sports bar in the 12800 block of Ambaum Boulevard.

A bouncer recognized him as a former customer who was kicked out of the bar several days earlier for fighting, and refused to let him in.

The man left and then returned within a minute, bursting through the back door of the bar with an assault rifle in his hands, witnesses told police.

He began blazing away - mostly firing into the ceiling - as bar patrons scrambled for cover. The man worked his way across the bar to the front door, still firing away, witnesses told King County sheriff's deputies.

Close-up of one several bullet holes in the ceiling of the bar.

The shooter then fled the scene, said Sgt. John Urquhart of the King County Sheriff's Office.

When police and medics arrived, the victim was rushed to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, where he is in critical condition, police said.

Officers initially reported that the man had died. Later reports confirmed that the man was hanging on to life, and is listed in critical condition.

No one else was hurt in the incident.

Sheriff's detectives are trying to identify the gunman. So far, no description of the suspect has been released.

Some witnesses said his assault rifle appeared to be an AK-47, but that has not been confirmed, detectives said.

More information will be released as it becomes available.