11:49 PM TUESDAY: For the second time in three nights, police are investigating gunfire reported in North Delridge. This time they got reports of gunfire outside the Youngstown Flats apartment complex at 4040 26th SW. So far officers report finding one bullet. Someone might have been injured but taken to a hospital before authorities arrived – dispatch told police one caller claimed someone had been hit, and though they didn’t find anyone at the scene, now they’ve learned a gunshot victim has arrived at Harborview Medical Center. (Added: An officer went to the hospital and later told dispatch it was indeed related. We hope to find out more later this morning.)
NOON WEDNESDAY: SPD tells us the report on this incident isn’t complete so they cannot provide additional information yet.
4:44 PM WEDNESDAY: We checked back and now have the redacted narrative:
On 04/01/2025 at approximately 2331 hours, I was dispatched to a 911 call of a SHOTS fired call at [4000 BLK] 26 AV SW.
Call on screen read: “1 MIN AGO, IN THE OLD BARTELLS PARKING LOT, 10 SHOTS HEARD, ONE VEH SPED OFF, 5 TEENS IN THE PARKING LOT, BELLIGERENT”
Upon arrival, one of the witnesses (XXXX XXXX) was contacted by a backing officer. XXXX began relating that he was smoking a cigarette outside of his apartment at [4000 BLK] 26 AV SW, when he heard a commotion Northeast of his location at a parking lot north of his apartment complex. XXXX continued relating that there was a verbal dispute between two juvenile subjects outside of a vehicle that had its doors open, and another female was trying to intervene from inside the car.
XXXX related that then ONE shot was discharged and another 911 caller related [hearing] “Take me to the hospital, I just got shot.” Both subjects that were arguing, entered the same vehicle (described as Gold/Beige in color Older model Sedan with possible suspension issues) and they fled the location toward DELRIDGE WY.
DISPATCH advised that a gunshot wound victim had been dropped off at HMC. Another backing unit was requested to respond to the location to interview the victim.
GVRU was contacted to screen the call and requested officers to process the scene. Only ONE UNSPENT round was located in the parking lot, along with an empty can of liquor. Both of these items were collected and entered into evidence.
GVRU is the Gun Violence Reduction Unit. The report had no information on the shooting victim or their condition.
9:17 PM: Police tell dispatch they are finding “shell casings all over” the 5200 block of 26th SW, after dozens of 911 calls reporting gunfire. No word of injuries or damage so far. Police are closing parts of 26th and Brandon in the area while they investigate.
9:21 PM: Police have now heard from a resident reporting some kind of bullet damage on 25th SW, and one officer told dispatch this may have followed a “large group attending some kind of vigil.” … A second residence and a vehicle are reported to have bullet damage too.
10:32 PM: And more reports of damage (in comments below, too).
12:28 AM: More than three hours after the gunfire, police are wrapping up evidence collection and will be taking down the crime-scene tape and reopening the streets.
7:26 AM: Here’s what SPD just posted:
Seattle police detectives are investigating a shooting shortly after 9 p.m. last night in West Seattle.
On [March] 30, patrol officers responded to multiple reports of shots fired and property damage near 26th Avenue Southwest and Southwest Brandon Street. When police arrived, all involved parties left the area. They did not locate any victims with injuries, no suspects, and no cooperative witnesses.
Officers determined that a large crowd of people were attending a vigil, likely for one of the recent South Seattle homicide victims earlier in the morning. Responding officers located over 100 fired rounds spanning several blocks around the vigil. There was bullet damage to a nearby RV trailer, a house, and they found a damaged, abandoned vehicle.
The circumstances leading up to the shooting are under investigation. Detectives with the Gun Violence Reduction Unit responded to process the scene.
If anyone has any information, please call 911, or the SPD Violent Crimes Tipline at 206-233-5000. Incident Number: 2025-85095
ADDED 11:28 AM: An area resident sent us audio and photos:
Below is the spot where the vigil was being held:
Another photo shows that if you look at the grouping of candles from above, the red ones form “24” and the white ones form four letters starting with KAY. If anyone else has photos etc. to add, you can do so anonymously and without address specifics – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you.
1:56 PM: At least one commenter suggested seeking comment from City Councilmember Rob Saka, who lives in the area and who is vice chair of the council’s Public Safety Committee. Here’s what he told us:
On Sunday night my family and West Seattle neighbors experienced a terrifying incident. Over a hundred gunshot rounds were fired just outside of my home – practically in my backyard. My 10-year-old daughter was awake at the time and heard everything. After the shooting, I had to wake up my two youngest children for the sole purpose of ensuring that they were safe. It has left my family, my neighbors in Delridge, and many people across our broader West Seattle community feeling traumatized.
No one in Seattle should have to be exposed to this. The sense of safety and peace in our homes and neighborhoods is a fundamental right, and what occurred last night is simply unacceptable.
I want to assure my constituents that I am working closely with the Seattle Police Department as they investigate this incident.
While I’m grateful for the swift response of our Seattle Police officers, it’s clear that we need to do more. My constituents are fed up with the rampant crime and gun violence throughout the city. Certain communities, such as Delridge, continue to bear the brunt of Seattle’s gun violence crisis.
This incident underscores the urgent need for continued and intensified efforts to address gun violence and enhance public safety across our city. I have proposed a public safety resolution up for a vote by the full Council tomorrow, and the Council is also considering a bill to regulate after-hour activities at unregulated clubs that have been sites of regular shootings and violence.
Moving forward, my focus remains on supporting the community and working collaboratively with first responders, local stakeholders, and city leaders to find meaningful solutions that will prevent such incidents from happening again and again.
If you have any information about this incident, I strongly encourage you to call 911, or immediately contact the SPD Violent Crimes Tipline at 206-233-5000.
Greg reports this theft happened to his mother-in-law on the northeast side of The Junction – maybe you’ll find one or more of these items discarded: Two 8×11 envelopes from Amazon, woman’s black fuzzy zip-up short jacket, no hood – house and car keys were in it.
Listening to police radio lately, we’ve heard a lot more dispatches for officers to respond to reports of shoplifting at Westwood Village. Police are also continuing to run targeted stings, and released a short summary about another one last night, so we asked for more details – here’s the report narrative we received, in its entirety (with the suspect’s name redacted, as she is not yet charged in this case):
On March 26, 2025, Officers were conducting Retail Theft Operations, at Target (located at 2800 SW Barton), which suffers a significant amount of retail theft.
The mission of this operation is to disrupt shoplifting, the trafficking of stolen goods, criminal activity, and other criminal activity that negatively impacts the public’s quality of life in the City of Seattle.
A sworn Seattle Police Detective XXXXXXXX was inside the store’s office observing the security cameras. Arrestee xxxxxx entered the store and selected items that were displayed for sale. xxxxxx concealed items in her bag, then exited the store, passing all points of sale, making no attempt to pay for the merchandise.
Det. XXXXXXXX described xxxxxx to officers waiting to stop and arrest her. Officers subsequently stopped xxxxxx. Det. XXXXXXXX confirmed officers had apprehended the correct suspect.
Officers photographed and returned the stolen items to Target. They also obtained a receipt for the stolen items. The total amount for the items taken was $90.97.
Officers developed probable cause to arrest xxxxxx for RCW 9A.52.030, Burglary 2nd Degree. … xxxxxx was previously trespassed from Target by CW/XXXXX and was arrested by SPD on 01/09/2025 for Burglary 2nd Degree after having been trespassed and re-entering the store and stealing. CW/XXXXX immediately recognized xxxxxx as soon as she entered the store because she was just trespassed on 11/29/2024. (She) was transported and booked into the King County Jail.
The suspect is 24 years old and still in jail; she will likely have a bail/probable-cause hearing this afternoon. The original short summary from SPD mentioned two other arrests, but no details were offered on those.
10:19 PM: Within the past half-hour, 911 got calls from people who thought they heard gunfire near Delridge and Thistle. Police have just confirmed it; they heard from a person who reported their car was shot at while at that intersection. The shooter(s) were in another vehicle. That’s one of the SPD criteria for confirming gunfire – if someone actually sees it (other criteria include injuries, damage, or found casings)
ADDED 11:37 AM THURSDAY: Here’s the redacted narrative we obtained from SPD:
On 03/26/2025 at 2141 hours I was working uniformed patrol as 3F21. I was dispatched to Delridge Wy SW and SW Thistle St for a report of shots fired. I arrived in the area and did not locate any scene. A short time later XXXXXXX, XXXXXX called in and reported his vehicle had been shot at the intersection and he was currently outside of the city.
I contacted XXXXXX by phone to take the report. XXXXXX stated that he was traveling southbound on Delridge Wy SW and was stopped at the traffic signal at the intersection of Delridge Wy SW and SW Thistle St. XXXXXX advised that a [DARK SEDAN] drove past him at a high rate of speed failing to stop at the red light. XXXXXX stated the light changed to green and he continued southbound, but [ANOTHER DARK SEDAN] came from behind him and attempted to pass him on the passenger side.
XXXXXX advised the vehicle eventually came along the passenger side of his vehicle and fired two gunshots into the passenger door of his vehicle WA XXXXXXX. XXXXXX stated one round struck the door and the other hit the passenger side mirror breaking it. XXXXXX advised that the vehicle sped away westbound on SW Thistle St from the scene. I provided XXXXXX with the Axon link to upload photos of the damage. XXXXXX did not have any license plate information or suspect description. No evidence was located at the scene. GVRU was notified of the incident.
12:41 AM: Police are on both sides of SW Roxbury around 18th SW after a report of gunfire. So far it sounds like they’ve confirmed bullet damage along the parking lot on the south side of Holy Family, including at least three vehicles, and at least 19 shell casings. Officers told dispatch that witnesses reported three people getting out of a white Tesla, opening fire, then getting back into it and leaving. No injuries reported so far.
12:46 AM: Officers just told dispatch there are two scenes in the parking lot, and the second one has at least 15 “handgun rounds.” They’ve mentioned finding “rifle casings” too. But now another witness is telling police the Tesla was dark, not white.
12:54 AM: Police report finding a “bullet fragment” inside a building adjacent to the church lot. (Note that this is an SPD investigation despite Holy Family being south of Roxbury; the city limit jogs south there to keep the church campus inside the city.)
ADDED MONDAY AFTERNOON: We asked SPD for report narrative – which would provide the most details made publicly available until and unless someone is arrested and prosecuted. Here’s the entirety of the redacted report we received:
On 03/23/2025 at 0024 hours I was working uniformed patrol as 3F2. I was dispatched to 94XX 18 Av SW for a report of shots being fired. I arrived with multiple officers and was notified by people at a large event at the XXXX that the shots were fired further south. The scene was located at 96XX 20 Av SW in the parking lot to the south.
Officers arrived and were advised by witnesses that four suspects were firing shots from handguns and a rifle. Witness XXXX stated that he had XXXX of the incident. Officers provided XXXX with the XXXX XXXX. The four suspects that were shooting and one driver fled the scene in a dark colored, unknown plate XXXX, southbound in the alleyway.
Suspect #1 Unknown race male, black puffy jacket hood up, blue jeans. Suspect #2 Unknown race male, XXXX. Suspect #3 Unknown race male, XXXX. Suspect #4 Unknown race male, black hoodie and XXXX. Suspect #5 Unknown race male was driving the Tesla.
No victims were located at the scene or surrounding area. Multiple vehicles were struck in the parking lot and damaged. Approximately XXXX and live rounds were located at the scene. There were no indications that this was a hate crime associated with the Ramadan event taking place nearby. GVRU and the Duty Captain were notified. GVRU responded and processed the scene.
The Ramadan event is a reference to a mosque on the other side of Roxbury, where the gunfire was clearly heard, but there was no indication any actually happened there (there was some initial police response while officers sorted out what had happened and where). GVRU is short for SPD’s Gun Violence Reduction Unit.
We are sad to report that our car got stolen last night from in front of our house near West Seattle High School. . I have made a police report and please ask anyone call 911 if they see it. It has an orange Defensive Driving School sticker on the back. Fingers crossed the police will find it soon. We are keeping perspective and are grateful everyone is safe. 2013 Lexus GS 350. License plate CMA5157.
We’ll add the police report # when we get it. (Added: 25-76697)
ORIGINAL FRIDAY REPORT: Police responded to Denny International Middle School around 11 am today after a report of a possible gun on campus. We don’t have confirmation yet that a gun or other weapon was actually found, but Seattle Public Schools did provide this letter that Denny’s principal Mary Ingraham subsequently sent to the school community:
Dear Denny Families and Staff,
Our school is committed to ensuring the safety of our students and staff. I want to share with you an incident within our school today.
This morning, we received reports that a student had a weapon on campus. We immediately called the Seattle Police Department (SPD) and the SPS Safety and Security team. School administrators were with all students involved from the time of the report until it was resolved. There remains an increased security presence this afternoon, but classes have continued as normal.
Please know that we take safety in our buildings very seriously. Any threat made by a student that impacts the safety and security of our students will have an immediate response from myself and district staff.
We appreciate our students and staff for their vigilance and quick reporting, as well as the swift response from our security team and law enforcement partners.
Maintaining a safe learning environment is our highest priority, and we encourage everyone to continue sharing any concerns with school staff and administrators. Any community member or student can also use the SPS Safe Schools Hotline 206-252-0510 to report any threats to our school. This phone number is managed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, year-round.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me. I will be happy to speak with you directly.
Thank you for your support in keeping our school safe.
Sincerely,
Principal Mary Ingraham
Denny International Middle School
We have asked both SPS and SPD for more information.
ADDED 2:30 PM MONDAY: We asked SPD whether a gun was actually found and whether anyone was arrested; their reply, “Officers arrived at the school and the suspect student had already been released to go home. The victim was interviewed and stated that a handgun was seen. All parties have been identified, and Gun Violence Reduction Unit will be investigating the incident.” We haven’t heard from SPS but SPD’s reply raises a few other questions so we’ll be asking again.
(WSB photo. North-side JTF gate, bordering Arrowhead Gardens property; vehicle entry gate is off Myers, on east side)
When we first told you last Sunday about a burglary at the Seattle Fire Department’s Joint Training Facility in southeast West Seattle, SFD wasn’t sure yet about the total amount of property damage and items stolen. Now, spokesperson Kristin Hanson tells us, results of an “initial inventory” are in:
We have conducted an initial inventory of stolen and damaged items as a result of the break-in at the City’s Joint Training Facility on March 15.
Right now, the estimate for damages and equipment stolen totals between $175k – $225k. The facility’s main and visitor gates were heavily damaged, along with an apparatus bay door, air compressor room door and a department pick-up truck. Three trailers on site were broken into and many tools were stolen.
Additional measures are in place to prevent unauthorized access, and SFD is working with partner City agencies to determine how to permanently improve security at this facility.
On Sunday, the police report said the burglar(s) had gotten into the site at 9401 Myers Way S. by cutting through a fence, and that they later used an SFD vehicle to bash a gate.
STOLEN GRAY 4RUNNER: The report and photo are from Chris:
Last night between 11:30 pm and 5:00 am our car was stolen from in front of our house. Gray Toyota 4Runner with black aftermarket rack, ladder and steps. Black rims as well. License is CJ7576. Police report is 25-74561. Photos are attached. We have a 1.5 year old and it’s our only car. Her car seat was in it so please let us know if you see that or the car. Stolen on the 3200 block of Belvidere in Admiral.
Call 911 if you find it.
‘SNEAKY PACKAGE THIEF’: That’s how Dayna headlined this report:
I live on 45th Ave SW between Admiral and Lander. At 12:35 pm (Wednesday), UPS parked and came to deliver a package that I was anticipating and was prepared to sign for. As the UPS driver was on my sidewalk, a man approached him and said he was my husband, signed for my package using the name “Aaron,” and left. It was not my husband.
I got an email that my package had been delivered, which was odd as no one came to our front door and no one in our home signed for anything. I checked the front of the house, the alley, and nothing. I had a bad feeling so I chased the UPS driver down. He told me he had left the package with my husband on the sidewalk, who had signed for it. Boy, he was shocked when I told him the man he spoke to was not, in fact, my husband! It was a “Fat man in a T-shirt and short pants.” I did a quick sweep of the area but didn’t find anyone matching that description. UPS claim and Seattle Police claim have been filed.
Wanted to flag for the community that there is a sneaky package thief out there. And hopefully UPS drivers are a little more careful in the future.
HIT-RUN DRIVER TAKES OUT MIRROR: This witness has info in case your car is the one damaged:
Did your car suffer a broken driver’s side, side view mirror on Sunday 3/16 at 10:45 am, in the area of Fauntleroy and Alaska? If you let me know where you were parked, I can provide a picture of the vehicle/license plate and a description of the driver. My apologies that I was on my way to work and I couldn’t stop to leave a note. You can text me or leave me a message at (509) 761-9286.
11:22 PM: Police checking out multiple 911 calls about possible gunfire in North Delridge have found proof. They report finding casings in the 2900 block of SW Brandon. No reports of injuries so far. They’re checking out reports of a possible suspect, dressed all in black, running northbound on 26th SW.
ADDED WEDNESDAY MORNING: One additional bit of information: the police summary says officers “recovered six 9mm shell casings.” No property damage or injuries reported by anyone.
SHOOTOUT CHARGE: The 18-year-old who called 911 after driving the shot 17-year-old away from the park, Walis G. Ahmed, is now charged with second-degree unlawful gun possession. Court documents say police are still not sure who started the shootout – which is why no assault charges are filed so far – but they say it appears from a witness’s video that three of the four participants were shooting at the fourth. While no guns related to the shootout have been found, prosecutors say Ahmed and two others are shown holding guns (the unidentified fourth person is not shown in the video). They say Ahmed was found guilty of unlawful gun possession last year, when he was a juvenile, and that’s why it was illegal for him to be armed last week. In that case, the court documents say, both Ahmed and the 17-year-old who was shot last Thursday were investigated for having guns “in a car near Cleveland High School” (documents we received when following up last week said at least one gun was being “shown to friends”). Ahmed received a “deferred sentence”; the 17-year-old was not charged. We don’t yet know whether he’s still in the hospital.
Also today, another stolen vehicle:
STOLEN GREEN CHEROKEE: William emailed to ask people to be on the lookout for his 1999 dark-green 4-door Jeep Cherokee with tinted windows and plate 988-YNV, stolen early today from his apartment complex in the 2400 block of SW Webster. Police report # is 25-73075; if you find it, call 911 and refer to that case number.
EARLY MORNING ARREST ON 35TH SW: After a texted tip, we briefly mentioned a big police response on 35th SW between Barton and Henderson in the AM traffic roundup. We followed up with SPD, and now we have the full police report about what happened: Police on patrol just after 5:30 am got an Automated License Plate Reader “hit” for a suspected stolen vehicle, parked on 35th. They traced it to a carjacking less than a week ago in which the vehicle’s owner was reportedly shot by someone who then took the vehicle. Police saw at least two people “passed out” inside, so they called for backup. The officer who was first on scene made preparations in case the suspects woke up and tried to escape; there turned out to be three people inside, two men and a woman, and they all “came out one by one (and) were all successfully detained without incident.” Police also saw “in plain view” a gun in the car, described as “a long barrel with a suppressor sticking out in between the driver side door and seat.” They discovered that the man who had been in the driver’s seat had an “active no-contact order prohibiting him from possessing firearms” so he was arrested for investigation of unlawful gun possession, possession of a stolen vehicle, and violation of a no-contact order.” (The report says the person he was ordered to stay away from was the woman also found in the vehicle.) The 34-year-old suspect was expected to be booked into jail (he’s not on the roster yet, but it shows that he’s been there for 52 days spread over four bookings in the past seven months), and the vehicle was impounded. The other two people were taken in for questioning. SPD’s website shows the carjacking happened early Saturday in the 3100 block of Airport Way South. (In case you are wondering, so far we have no information indicating what kind of vehicle it is.)
Now a reader report:
STOLEN GRAY SPORTAGE: The photo and report were sent by Connor:
Stolen Kia Sportage from 9051 20th Ave SW, right behind Boss Drive-In. Gray Kia Sportage, license CAK2785, police incident # 25-72531
(WSB photo. North-side JTF gate, bordering Arrowhead Gardens property; vehicle entry gate is off Myers, on east side)
3:09 PM: Thanks to the texter who tipped us to what they described as a “major break-in overnight” at the Joint Training Facility, operated by the city primarily for Fire Department training, on the southeast edge of West Seattle (9401 Myers Way S.). We’ve obtained the preliminary police summary, which says officers were called to the JTF just after 8 am today, after SFD employees discovered what had happened:
SFD personnel arrived to find a SFD vehicle at the entrance and the vehicle entry gate heavily damaged. It appeared that sometime overnight a portion of the fencing had been cut and entry made. Inside, a SFD vehicle was broken into and used to ram the door of of the engine bay where entry was gained. A SFD ax was found on the ground near the bay. Three separate trailers on the property was also broken into, seemingly by use of the ax. The SFD vehicle was then used to ram through the entry gate for the suspect(s) to exit from the property. There are some cameras present on the property and a link was provided to upload any footage. At time of this report, it was unknown what property, if any, was taken.
We have asked SFD for comment on that, as well as whether the damage etc. is affecting operations as suggested by our texter, and will add any additional information we get.
4:28 PM: Here’s the SFD statement we received from spokesperson Kristin Hanson:
In the late evening hours on March 15, there was a break-in at the City’s Joint Training Facility, which is a property shared by the Seattle Fire Department and Seattle Public Utilities. The fire department has filed a police report with the Seattle Police Department and is currently conducting an inventory of stolen and damaged items. SPD is investigating this as a burglary. A total estimate on cost of damages will likely be available later this week.
We are deeply disappointed this has occurred, especially at a facility that is utilized for training firefighter recruits on saving the lives of others.
11:02 PM: The Guardian One helicopter is joining SPD‘s search for two carjacking suspects. According to emergency radio traffic it happened in the Westwood Village area, but the carjackers already have abandoned the Acura SUV they stole. They’re looking for two suspects, one described as wearing all black, with a black face mask, and a gun; they were reported to be running on 25th SW. … Officers report having stopped a possible suspect in the area.
11:11 PM: The ground search includes a K-9, so if you’re in the area, you may hear police’s obligatory announcements of that.
11:30 PM: They’re still searching, including to the north and east of WWV.
11:39 PM: They’ve exhausted the possibilities for now, so the helicopter’s leaving. No further info on the incident, but we’ll of course follow up and add any additional information when it’s available.
ADDED 12:10 PM SATURDAY: Here’s the preliminary summary from SPD:
At 2300 hours, responded to a report of a carjacking that had just occurred at the Westwood Village Shopping Center. The suspects (one armed with a handgun) approached the victims as they were standing outside the vehicle and attempted to pistol whip the driver while suspect #2 simultaneously assaulted the female passenger. The victims complied and the suspects got into the victim vehicle. The vehicle was a newer Acura, and the suspects could not figure out how to shift it into drive. The suspects panicked and fled immediately once they could not manipulate the shifter dial, and the victims managed to maintain possession of their vehicle. Containment was established and KCSO K9 and Guardian One responded to assist.
If you have any information, the incident to refer to is 25-69379.
4:36 PM: As noted in an update to our coverage of Thursday afternoon’s Roxhill Park shootout, which sent a 17-year-old to the hospital, police arrested the 18-year-old they were questioning. Court documents say he was the person who called 911 for the injured teenager after pulling over at 30th and Elmgrove, about half a mile north of the shootout scene. The 18-year-old suspect had his first hearing today, and the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office says a judge found cause to hold him for first-degree assault. Prosecutors asked for $200,000 bail; the judge set it at $100,000. The KCPAO also notes that:
The 18-year-old had one previous case, in which the Court granted deferred disposition. In that case, the teen was accused of showing a gun to friends in a vehicle in South Seattle. The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office charged him with Unlawful Possession of a Firearm in the Second Degree. … That Court order had 12 months of community supervision, 63 days credit for time served (the sentencing range is 0-30 days of local sanctions under state law), and school notification, among other terms … from Aug. 28, 2024.
The KCPAO notes that a bill supported by Prosecuting Attorney Leesa Manion, to strengthen juvenile gun laws, “died in committee.” One other note from the Roxhill Park investigation – according to the court document, “Officers recovered 16 9mm bullet casings and 2 .40 caliber casings at the scene.” No guns were recovered, though.
Tuesday is the deadline for rush-charging the 18-year-old in this case. The initial police report said the injured teen was expected to be arrested before leaving the hospital. Two other people were reported to have been involved in the shootout, which is reported to have started when one person pulled a gun during an argument on the Roxhill Park playground, but there is no word of additional arrests yet.
5:58 PM: A little more on the legislative (in)action mentioned above: The bill was HB 1536. It would have reduced the number of gun convictions needed before a juvenile can be held longer than a month, from five to three. Here’s Manion’s memo in support of it.
2:50 PM: SPD and SFD are responding to 30th/Elmgrove, where there’s a report of a man in a car with a gunshot wound to the back.
2:53 PM: Dispatch asked police if they want schools in the area to shelter in place; officers noted that there seems to be a time delay (suggesting it’s not known whether there’s active danger). They said a witness reported ‘four participants’ in the shooting and that all were reported to be “actively shooting at each other.” Roxhill Park also is reported to have been involved in some way (though it’s a half mile from the originally reported scene)
(WSB photos)
3:05 PM: We’ve just arrived at 30th/Elmgrove, where Medic 26 has just departed, reportedly with the victim, headed for Harborview. Police are still at the scene. At least one person is reported to be in custody. Via medical radio, the victim is reported to be an 18-year-old man with two gunshot wounds to the upper torso and is conscious.
3:20 PM: We’ve now arrived at Roxhill Park. The west side of the park is taped off and police have reported finding evidence of gunfire here.
4:29 PM: SFD tells us the victim was in stable condition when transported, and now describes him as 17 years old.
5:30 PM: Police confirm that the victim was shot at Roxhill Park. They say they are “interviewing one person at this time and are searching for up to two additional suspects” and ask anyone with information to call their tipline, 206-233-5000.
ADDED 11 AM FRIDAY: More info from police – the victim was admitted in serious condition, plus:
Officers determined that four males were engaged in a loud argument by the play structure. At some point, one male pulled a gun on the other three males, and they all exchanged gunfire. The lone male then fled on foot. The other three males fled in a Prius. Officers quickly determined the males contacted at 30/Elmgrove were the same males observed shooting at the park. … Detectives responded to the scenes and HMC. Detectives processed the scene at the park and coordinated the impound of the suspect vehicle … The 18 yo male was placed under arrest and booked into KCJ for Investigation of Assault and UPFA. The juvenile male will be booked into YSC for Investigation of Assault and UPFA, once he is discharged from the hospital. Two unidentified suspects remain at large.
(UPFA is “unlawful possession of a firearm.”) We’re following up next with the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.
Police are investigating an early morning carjacking in The Junction, near 42nd/Alaska. They say it happened around 3:30 am. The narrative we obtained says the car’s owner was inside an unnamed business, working, “when she saw a male, 16-20 years old, thin build, wearing a dark blue hoodie, dark blue mask covering his face, and dark blue jeans looking into her vehicle. There was also a small black SUV idling in the street next to her vehicle that the suspect arrived in. (She) tried to get the suspect’s attention from inside the store, but she couldn’t. (She) then went outside to talk to the suspect who was at the driver’s door now.” A co-worker went outside with her; the suspect “saw them and held up a long unknown object, but did not say anything. (The victim) said (the co-worker) then pulled her back and told her that the suspect had a gun and they went back into the store. The suspect then entered the car and took off eastbound on SW Alaska St as she was calling the police.” They then told police they’d seen a second suspect.” In addition to what’s in the provided narrative, we found the archived incident audio, which further updated the two carjackers as white men in their 20s, both believed to be armed, and described the car they stole as a 2017 silver Hyundai Elantra, plate beginning in BJO. The narrative added this descriptive detail: “The rubber trim along the driver’s side door is missing and could be identified that way. The door handle was also recovered in the street where it was parked.” If you have any information, the incident # is 25-67415.
10:45 AM: Thanks to the reader who sent that photo showing part of a large police response near 26th/Juneau. Police are trying to arrest a suspect who’s believed to be inside a residence. The person may be armed so they called in SWAT officers and negotiators. We’re still tracking down the origin of the call. Updates to come.
10:56 AM: Officers say the suspect is in custody.
NOON: We asked SPD how this started; their response, “The incident started as a domestic violence stalking disturbance call – incident number 25-67540 (started at 8:09 a.m., in the 1500 Block of 4th Avenue South). The suspect was located in the 5600 block of 26th Avenue Southwest. The suspect was taken into custody (25-67617) for DV felony harassment.”
Just wanted to report to you that last night someone stole my tail lights from my 2023 Ford 150 Lightning. It appears that they unscrewed the tailgate cover plate to gain access to the locking mechanism and then somehow opened the tail gate. This allowed access to the tail lights and from there was a quick removal. The worst part of all is that they cut the wiring harness instead of unplugging the tail light, which will make this even more difficult and expensive to repair. This took place near the intersection of SW Thistle and 20th Ave SW.
SOUTH DELRIDGE FIRE: As noted in an update earlier on our coverage of Monday afternoon’s fire at a vacant house near 16th/Barton, SFD ruled it was deliberately set, and said they had referred the case to police. We subsequently followed up with SPD; they had not yet assigned the case to a detective. If you have any information, the case number is 25-64894.
STUDENT SUSPECTED OF FIRE-SETTING: SPD released this incident summary tonight:
At 1324 hours, a group of high-school students were on a tour of a community college when unidentified students dared another student to set fire to something in an auditorium. The suspect waited until the auditorium was empty and then proceeded to set fire to a flag/pole. Campus staff smelled the smoke and responded. Security extinguished the fire with no further property damage beyond the lingering smell of smoke and fire extinguisher chemical. The suspect was identified and later released to a parent. ABS was advised of the incident.
According to archived emergency-radio audio, two SFD units were dispatched at 1:20 pm to Olympic Hall on the south end of the South Seattle College campus, and the fire was out before their arrival, so they left quickly.
5:20 PM: Two days after someone vandalized the sea-life mural on Alki Beach’s relatively new restroom building, artist Patrick “Dozfy” Nguyen was there restoring it today, as he told us he likely would do. The photos are courtesy of Alki resident Cami, who also shared her photo of the extensive damage shortly after it was done.
8:27 PM: The Guardian One helicopter has arrived in Riverview to help police look for an armed suspect. The incident that started at 12th and Webster is logged as an assault, and reported to have involved gunfire, though there was no medical dispatch; we’re still looking into how it started.
8:33 PM: The aerial search has exhausted the possibilities, so Guardian One is leaving; police are still present on the ground.
8:39 PM: According to the dispatch audio, this involved a man firing a gun from one corner of the intersection; no one hit. He was described as an “unknown-race male, 5’9″to 6′, black hoodie, light-blue jeans, white shoes,” wielding a black pistol.
9 PM: In a radio exchange after leaving the scene, police just noted “there were a lot of rounds shot” but no property damage reported. (If you discover any later, be sure to call it in – you can refer to incident 25-060427.)
ADDED THURSDAY PM: We obtained the redacted police narrative, and it includes the excerpt below of what the person identified as the victim told police:
XXXX said that he was in his house when all of a sudden he heard a short string of gunshots from Riverview Playfield. XXXX secured his XXXX (XXXXX) on the outside of his shorts with an open carry holster and stepped out onto the sidewalk of his house. XXXX does not have a concealed carry license, but in WA state, you are allowed to open carry a handgun without a CPL as long as it is not concealed.
(He said the suspect) was walking away from Riverview Playfield Westbound on Sw Webster.
XXXX called out to the male and said, “was that you shooting?”
The male replied, telling XXXX that he was “…just trying out my gun”.
XXXX yelled back at the suspect to not be firing guns in the neighborhood. XXXX claimed that the suspect then fired multiple shots towards him after a heated argument. XXXX said that he drew his handgun and returned fire. The suspect later walked off, possibly either South bound or Westbound.
XXXX said that the shots were exchanged in a North / South direction. …
As I was speaking with XXXX, backing officers located XXXX casings near the roundabout at 12 Ave SW / SW Webster St. We later located XXXX casings from XXXX in his front yard from where he returned fire …
A witness/ XXXX caught the shooting on his XXXX at XXXX St. In the video, you can see approximately three gunshots in the lower right hand corner, which would be on the South side of Riverview playfield, just East of 12th Ave SW / SW Webster St. You then see a XXXX walking West on SW Webster St. The male stops at the intersection of 12th Ave SW / SW Webster St when he is being yelled at by XXXX.
Just as XXXX told me, in the video XXXX asks the male if he was the one shooting, which the male replies that “yes, I was trying out my gun”. The two get into a brief argument and an exchange of gunfire happens. From my observation, it appears that XXXX fired his handgun after being shot at by the suspect. I do believe that this was a good self defense shooting. …
We later located XXXX more shell casings in Riverview Playfield, which would’ve been the suspects first rounds fired before shots were exchanged with XXXX.
We were unable to locate any property damage or additional victims involved in this shooting.
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