West Seattle, Washington
19 Friday
John reports a stolen 1994 black Honda del Sol from behind the 4100 block of California SW. Awaiting plate. SPD incident # is 2022-316305.
ADDED: The plate is CEB3731
Two reader reports in West Seattle Crime Watch this afternoon:
STOLEN VAN: The report and photo are from Andrea:
1988 white Toyota Van Wagon “Wonder Wagon” stolen from West Seattle the week of November 13-19. License Plate: AFV4867
Report filed with Seattle Police Southwest Precinct, incident #2022-307131. Please contact police with any information: 206-733-9800.
The van was stolen in the Morgan Junction area.
CHARGING-STATION VANDALISM: Via text, this report just in: “Someone vandalized and cut off the charging cord on the electric car charging station in front of the bowling alley.” The texter has reported this to Seattle City Light, and also noted that this happened recently at charging stations in Burien.
2 PM: Police have reported a person with a gunshot wound to the leg at Delridge/Thistle. More information as we get it.
2:03 PM: Texter says nearby Chief Sealth International High School is sheltering in place. A Seattle Fire “scenes of violence” medical response is now arriving in the Delridge/Thistle area as well as more police.
2:12 PM: Officers told dispatch they’ve found evidence – “three shell casings so far” – that the shooting happened in the 8800 block of Delridge. There’s also word that a Metro bus captured video of the shooting.
2:15 PM: Our crew at the scene says all they’ve been able to learn is that the victim is male. Meantime, police now report finding five casings “so far.”
2:19 PM: Police are looking for two suspects, one of which they have described to dispatch as a white or Hispanic male, 5’8″, gray sweater, brown pants, black Nike shoes with a white swoosh, silver pistol. The victim, who was described as alert/conscious, is being taken to Harborview. … The second suspect is described as a white or Hispanic male, 5’10”, black hair, black sweater, dark-blue jeans, black shoes. … As noted by commenters, Denny International Middle School (which is adjacent to CSIHS) also is in shelter-in-place.
2:40 PM: Police have just given clearance for the schools to lift their sheltering-in-place. No one in custody so far. Photos added above.
2:56 PM: A commenter uploaded this security video in which you hear the shots and a voice asking “Why’d you do that?”
Then two people are briefly seen on the right edge of the video, running.
3:45 PM: Police say the victim is 17 years old. Their update otherwise includes only one other bit of additional information: “Witnesses reported seeing a group of five or six young men fighting near Delridge Way and Trenton Street prior to the shooting.” They also request tips on their hotline, 206-233-5000.
ADDED 7:08 PM: Commenter TBD‘s video, mentioned below – this is from a camera on the rear of their vehicle:
9:42 PM: Police are out with a K-9 right now in Highland Park, searching for a man suspected of shooting at another man. This is centered at 10th/Cloverdale, though the search is ranging further out – the suspect was reportedly last seen eastbound on Cloverdale. We haven’t heard a description yet. No injuries reported.
9:50 PM: Police have reported finding a shell casing – “.380 auto” – in the alley behind the house where this is reported to have happened.
11:10 PM: The search has wound down. The initial call was that a man had found an intruder in his neighbor’s house, and the intruder shot at him. The man chased the intruder a ways “with an ax.”
ADDED TUESDAY AFTERNOON: Here’s the police summary of the incident:
At 2125 hours, officers responded to a report of an interrupted burglary where the suspect had fired a shot at the victim. The caller reported that he had heard the burglary occurring at his neighbor’s house. The caller armed himself with an axe and confronted the suspect, who was in the process of piling stolen items on the back deck. When confronted, the suspect fled on foot with the caller following. The suspect turned as he was running and fired 1 round at the victim, who discontinued his chase and returned home for police response. Evidence of a shooting was located and submitted.
In addition to the incidents we covered this weekend, police summaries reveal one we missed. According to SPD, a man reported to them at around 4:40 am Saturday that he’d been shot. They say he told them it happened about 20 minutes earlier in the “triangle’ area where Delridge, 16th, and Roxbury meet. He said several men came up to him and made a profane remark; then one of the men shot him in the knee. He was taken to the hospital; no suspects were found.
11:33 PM: So far police have reported finding four casings in an alley off the 4800 block of Fauntleroy Way SW, after numerous 911 calls from people who heard gunfire in the area. No injuries or property damage reported so far. Possible vehicles involved were reported as a white pickup truck and a white or silver BMW.
11:45 PM: No further info. Police are looking to see if any area security cameras might have recorded the incident and/or suspect vehicles. Meantime, one resident in the increasingly dense area told us by text, “The gunshots were so close we all got down on the ground.”
12:04 AM: Officers told dispatch they’ve found a total of seven 9mm casings in a “parking lot” behind the 4800 block.
STORE ROBBED: Police are investigating a shoplift-turned-robbery reported at the South Delridge T-Mobile store about an hour ago. Officers told dispatch the store reported two men made off with iPhones, an iPod, and asked for cash. They were described initially as two Hispanic men in their mid-20s, one in a red cap and green jacket, one dressed all in black. If you have any information, the incident number is 2022-312063.
ROBBERY CHARGE: A shoplift-turned-robbery case at Westwood Village earlier this month has resulted in a felony charge. The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office filed a second-degree robbery charge against 23-year-old Alexis M. Smith, who has an Olympia address and no known criminal history. She is accused of stealing items worth $177 from Marshall’s around 7 pm November 3rd and threatening store security with what turned out to be sharp scissors, at first reported as a knife. Police found her a few blocks away, at Delridge and Trenton. She was booked into King County Jail and released the next day; she is due in court tomorrow for arraignment.
HARASSMENT CHARGE: A 37-year-old man is charged with felony harassment for allegedly attacking a man who was waiting with others looking for day-labor work outside The Home Depot on Delridge. Hector M. Madrigal is accused of approaching the victim around 8 am November 7th and demanding money. He then allegedly grabbed a “4 x 4 composite post” and threatened to kill the victim, hitting him in the leg. Police were called by a bystander reporting what looked like a fight. The victim told officers that Madrigal, who has three felony convictions, often hassles the people gathered to look for work there. Madrigal remains in jail in lieu of $20,000 bail and is due to be arraigned Wednesday.
2:37 AM: After multiple reports of gunfire in South Delridge, both Seattle Police and King County Sheriff’s Deputies are out searching right now. There are no reports of injuries so far. Officers are telling dispatch they’re finding “bullet damage to cars.”
2:43 AM: They’re looking for a suspect who apparently allegedly at some point threatened officers, and at least part of the search has ranged north into Highland Park. A K-9 team is part of the search.
9:29 AM: Update from police:
Police investigating a report of domestic violence came under fire from the suspect as he fled the West Seattle scene early Saturday morning.
A woman called 911 around 12:30 am to report that her ex-boyfriend was chasing her through West Seattle and pointing a handgun at her. Police responding to her home spotted the 26-year-old suspect’s vehicle driving toward the house. Officers attempted to get the suspect to stop the vehicle but he drove off at a high rate of speed.
45 minutes later, officers were dispatched to multiple reports of shots fired near the victim’s home. Responding officers again spotted the suspect’s vehicle and chased it to 17 Avenue SW and SW Barton Street, where the suspect exited the car and began running away. Officers gave chase until the suspect turned and opened fire on the officers. Bullets struck multiple vehicles parked in the area, and even hit a car narrowly missing the leg of the officer that was outside of that vehicle.
Police contained the area and searched with a K9 officer but have not found the suspect yet. Officers described the shooter as a Hispanic male, 5’7”, 140 lbs, mustache, goatee, wearing a black hoodie and missing one shoe.
If you spot the suspect please call 911 immediately.
The latest confirmed-gunfire incident in West Seattle happened last night just before 10:30 pm on Puget Ridge. The police-report summary says 911 callers reported hearing shots in the 6000 block of Croft Place SW [map]. Police found “evidence of a shooting” but no victims or property damage. A nearby resident told them she heard five shots and a vehicle speeding away, but according to the police summary, she had no description of the vehicle or who was in it. If you have any information about this incident, refer to case # 2022-309409.
(File photo)
Two weeks ago, we reported on the electrical meter/wiring theft that left West Bay Coffee and Smoothies (2255 Harbor Avenue SW) literally powerless. It’s been an arduous two weeks for proprietor Jennifer to get reconnected so she can reopen her small business, but they’re finally on track to reopen Friday morning (November 18). “We’ve overcome a lot of adversity these past few years, but this time there were quite a few steps to have us operational again,” she explained. Not just dealing with electricians, insurance adjusters, and City Light, but also the direct effect of the temporary shutdown:
With 2 weeks of lost revenue due to this petty theft that impacted myself, 5 employees and their families, this time it really hit us hard. I seriously contemplated to (not) even reopen due to the unwavering fact that this can happen again and nobody is held accountable. We’ve always had systems in place like surveillance cameras, a security alarm, there’s never any cash left at night, and we’ve always closed at 5 pm to avoid late-night safety concerns. We now have 2 people on morning shifts just to have support with all the morning RV activities happening at 5:30 am. These people are busy in the mornings. Usually outside cutting metal, shuffling stuff to and from, fights, and blasting the music, to name a few observations.
With all the crime and break-ins we’ve had to overcome these past few years, there’s no budget for that with a small business, it’s directly from my profit which is how I support my family. There’s small business grants on rebuilding business storefronts, which I haven’t been successful at receiving. (Any tips on that, I’d gladly appreciate it)
Overall we are the only drive-thru on Harbor Ave/Alki, which serves much of the high school population, walkers on the trail and morning commuters. It’s really put a wrench in people’s schedules and routines. I would like to thank my amazing team, and the extended support from our dedicated West Bay coffee community. Without all of you, we wouldn’t be here, so thank you for your continued love and support. We hope to see you this weekend!
Or tomorrow, starting at 6 am.
Reported by Blair:
My truck was stolen Sunday night from in front of the PCC in the Admiral District. 1989 Toyota pickup, license number B73718K.
UPDATE: SPD incident # 2022-306014.
Three West Seattle Crime Watch notes:
STOLEN KIA; Emailed by Rachel:
My car was stolen over the weekend:
Make: Kia
Model: Forte
Year: 2010
Color: Black
License Plate: ADU5192
Case Number: 22-307144It was stolen over the weekend (likely on Saturday) from the corner of 14th Avenue SW and Kenyon Street.
The stolen car resembles this stock photo.
CAR PROWL: Texter reports their Jeep Cherokee was broken into overnight Monday/Tuesday. It happened on 63rd SW in the Alki area.
MEETING REMINDER: Another reminder – tomorrow night (Thursday, November 17), 7 pm, is the long-planned community meeting with police at the Southwest Precinct. If you have a question about a specific incident or general trend/concern, this is the time/place to ask. In addition to local police, City Attorney Ann Davison is scheduled to speak. The precinct is at Delridge/Webster; the public entrance is off the parking lot, just east of Home Depot’s south entrance on Webster.
2:32 PM: Big response under way for a shooting in White Center. It’s reported to have been a drive-by shooting near the Hung Long Market shopping center at 9988 15th SW, with one person who has at least two gunshot wounds. The Guardian One helicopter is joining the search for what’s described so far as a “light brown Chevrolet” seen headed north on 15th. Updates to come.
3:02 PM: Our crew at the scene says the shooting appears to have happened right outside the aforementioned market. The victim, who was described as conscious, is being taken to a hospital.
3:15 PM: Southbound 15th has reopened. Investigators at the scene aren’t commenting.
5:52 PM: KCSO will tell us only that the victim’s injuries are not life-threatening, and that no one is in custody.
ORIGINAL MONDAY NIGHT REPORT: In the photo are Brad and kids on the cargo bike that he reports was stolen from the Water Taxi pier:
Black Xtracycle long tail/cargo bike. Lots of Seahawks stickers and had a Seattle Mariners flag sticking out the back. Had brand-new
hydraulic brakes and grips put on. Rode it for the last 10 years in the Admiral area and Junction, many times with little ones on the back.
We’ll add the police-report number when we get it.
TUESDAY UPDATE: Brad reports in comments that his wife found the bike in a west Alki rack.
First, two West Seattle incidents, from Sunday police reports:
CARJACKING: Police say this happened in the parking lot at the Arrowhead Gardens senior-living complex just after 10:30 Sunday morning. They report that an 83-year-old woman told them she was on her way to her car when a man asked her for a cigarette. She replied that she doesn’t smoke, and got into her car, with her key “on her pinky finger.” Police day the man reached into her car and tried to rip the key away from her finger, then grabbed her and threw her to the ground before stealing her car. She had to be taken to a hospital for evaluation of injuries including “a deep laceration to her arm.” The full police report says the carjacker was described only as “short”; the stolen car is a silver Hyundai sedan. SPD incident number is 2022-305063.
ARMED HIT-AND-RUN SUSPECT: According to the police summary, this happened around quarter till 6 Sunday evening. Police were called to investigate a hit-and-run crash; the victim told them the suspect’s vehicle was parked in a driveway near 35th/Holly. They went to investigate, the summary says, and “as the officers were looking at the suspect’s vehicle, the suspect came out of the residence with a loaded rifle. Officers announced multiple times that they were “Seattle Police”, but the suspect continued to approach the officers with the rifle, while aiming the rifle at the officers. At one point, the suspect racked a round in his rifle. The suspect finally stopped and placed the rifle on the ground.” He was arrested and booked for investigation of assault. (We’re checking on his status. UPDATE: His bail was set today at $2,500.) SPD incident number is 2022-305361.
And a reminder:
PRECINCT COMMUNITY MEETING THURSDAY: The long-awaited community meeting with Seattle Police at the Southwest Precinct is still on for this Thursday (November 17) at 7 pm. In addition to SPD reps, City Attorney Ann Davison is a scheduled guest. All are welcome – bring questions and concerns. The precinct is at Delridge/Webster and the public lot/entrance is just east of the south Home Depot entrance.
8:01 PM: Police are searching in Highland Park for three people who are suspects in an armed robbery. K-9 is already involved in the search, and the Guardian One helicopter is expected to join the search, so you might hear it soon over eastern West Seattle. The suspects were last seen in an alley north of Fire Station 11 at 16th SW and SW Holden. Per an exchange between officers and the helicopter deputies, the suspects might be linked to other robberies outside Seattle. The one who is reported to have had a gun is described as Hispanic, male, black clothing, red gaiter-style face mask. No other details yet.
(Added: Texted photo of one of the SPD cars involved in search)
8:22 PM: Archived dispatch audio indicates the holdup was at Seamart at 16th/Holden. Meantime, the helicopter and K-9 ended their search because the trail grew cold, possibly with the robbers having left via a getaway vehicle nearby. If you’re in the area and see anything suspicious on your security video, the SPD incident number is 2022-301827.
The report and photo are from Dan:
Our 1995 Ford 150 was stolen from in front of our house on Admiral Way near Schmitz Park yesterday afternoon or early evening. It’s white and should have a white canopy on the back now. Glass on street indicates driver-side window (possibly wing) is broken. License #B53335T and incident #2022-300959 in case anyone sees it and is kind enough to contact police.
Five notes in West Seattle Crime Watch:
GUNFIRE THIS MORNING: 911 got calls around 10:30 am of gunfire heard near 29th/Barton. The preliminary SPD report isn’t in yet but the communications team confirms evidence of gunfire was found – a damaged car window. If you have any information, the incident number is 2022-299590. (added) Seattle Public Schools confirms that the former Roxhill building, now home to several SPS programs, was in shelter-in-place for about 20 minutes because of this. ADDED TUESDAY: Here’s the SPD summary made available today:
Passenger in a gray sedan fired multiple gunshots at another vehicle near 29 AV SW/SW Barton Street. Officers responded and recovered several shotgun shells at the scene. Citizens were walking in the immediate area during the incident, however no one was shot or injured. (Victim) called and vehicle contained evidence consistent with being fired upon.
2 GUNFIRE INCIDENTS SATURDAY NIGHT: We reported briefly on the incident in High Point just before 10 pm Saturday. Here’s the SPD summary:
Officers responded to a report of shots heard near 29 Ave SW and SW Morgan St. Additional calls to 911 indicated that possible parties involved were running in multiple directions. A possible victim description was provided by callers and officers located him near the scene. The victim was uninjured and stated that he and 2 friends had just arrived at the location after visiting a cannabis dispensary in White Center. As they were about to park an unknown male emerged from an alley and began firing at them without provocation. The victim(s) immediately fled on foot. The single suspect fled the scene on foot and an area check did not locate him at this time. Evidence of a shooting was recovered from the scene. Guardian One was unavailable and a K9 Track was not feasible. … Two vehicles and 2 homes were struck by gunfire. Victims were notified of the damage.
Commenters mentioned an incident earlier in North Delridge. Here’s the summary for that incident, reported just before 8 pm:
Officers responded to 5000 block of 25 Ave SW to a report of shots heard along a nearby park. Officers located the scene and found evidence of a shooting in the middle of the road. Witnesses had limited information and no suspect physical description or vehicle description were provided. An area check found no injured persons and no property damage.
If you have any information, the incident numbers are 2022-298318 for the High Point case and 2022-297207 for the North Delridge case.
Also today, two reader reports about car prowls overnight:
FAUNTLEROY BREAK-IN: From Tom:
Someone overnight broke into my car and broke out a small window in the back. They got in, took all paperwork, and also broke the ignition.
No police report # yet.
GATEWOOD BREAK-IN: Laura reports a car break-in overnight, second one in a week on her block in Gatewood. The report number is 2022-923925.
The photo and report are from Mark in Alki:
My orange RAD Cargo E-Bike got stolen overnight November 6, 2022. The individual who stole my Ebike left a gray blanket there. They cut through my U-Bolt Cable Lock to steal my bike which was attached to our condo’s railing.
SPD Incident #22-298702.
MONDAY UPDATE: Just got a call. Police found it “by the RVs near Salty’s.”
10:15 PM: Police are investigating gunfire in High Point. Nobody is reported to have been hurt, so far, but they’re searching for someone. One texter says they’re in the 29th/Morgan vicinity; we’d had other reports from where the gunfire was heard. It is reported to have happened around 9:50 pm. No word of any witness description so far.
10:21 PM: Officers have told dispatch that a home in the 2800 block of SW Morgan “was hit.”
Via text: That white Ford E250 van was stolen overnight near 46th/Alaska. It was discovered missing at 8:30 this morning, though a neighbor told the van’s owner they saw someone in it around 8 pm. California plates 47492G3; the van has a welded-on roof rack with a ladder in the back. Awaiting the police-report number. (Added: 2022-297733.)
TEMPORARILY CLOSED BY THEFT: West Bay Coffee and Smoothies (2255 Harbor Avenue SW) has been hit again, and this time they’re temporarily closed as a result. Proprietor Jennifer reports:
At 6 pm on Wednesday night we lost power. Thinking it must be a power outage in the neighborhood, but looking around, it was just us.
Waiting till Seattle City Light opened (7:30 am), they couldn’t find any problems either, and said check your breaker.
By 1 pm, I was still not able to be open for business, I got a call from Seattle City Light saying something wasn’t quite right and we’re sending a technician out. And this is what we found: The whole power meter completely stolen off the building and all the wiring leading to the shop had been ripped out and gone! All the cut wire was exposed and in the rain.
Jennifer says the building owner “isn’t willing to help us once again” – you might recall the saga of the broken water pipes last winter – and her 15-year small business is on a month-to-month, “so I’m on my own once again to figure out if I want to stay. … I understand the property is for sale but it has been for years, and in the meantime we’re still here and thriving more than ever! Sales are up the last 3 years thanks to this amazing community. Plus I have the best team! I’m so appreciative for them being so supportive during these challenging times. So we closed for a bit until we figure out what’s next to do. Currently waiting for our Seattle City Light rep to give us the next step.” And if you have any information about the meter/wiring theft, the SPD incident # is 2022-923739.
CAR HARDTOP THEFT ATTEMPT: Via email:
On October 29 (between 2 to 3 PM), I parked my car in the parking lot at West Seattle Home Depot (7345 Delridge Wy SW). I was in the store for approximately 15 minutes. After I exited the store and approached my car, a witness told me that three men had broken the passenger-side window and attempted with a heavy manual object (likely used to steal catalytic converters) to remove my Miata convertible hardtop. Because no VIN or other identifiers exist on removable hardtops that require simple unlatching and removal once a car is broken into, I have special locks in place that they were not able to remove and take the hardtop (my car has been broken into 5 times in 13 yr living in West Seattle).
The tool they used cut metal as the latches are sawed in half. However, in addition to the broken window, they did extensive damage to the interior of the car by trying to remove the hardtop, including breaking all latches and damaging the structures that attach the hardtop. Brazen given it was attempted in a public store parking lot.
WOULD-BE PACKAGE/MAIL THIEF? If anyone along SW Yancy east of Avalon Way is missing packages/mail, Calista reports this sighting before noon on Thursday: A man following a USPS letter carrier who was making his rounds, going up to homes right after the letter carrier had been there. After watching the man for a while, she says she alerted the carrier – she didn’t have a phone with her to call 911 – so she’s hopeful he called police. The carrier drove off and Calista did too, but she says she saw an approaching Amazon truck in her rear-view mirror.
(added) ANYBODY MISSING A TRUCK CANOPY? David says this was dumped in his alley:
I would like to report a truck canopy that was left in our alley sometime in the past 24 hours. It’s located between SW Cloverdale on the north and SW Trenton on the south between 32nd AVE SW and 34th AVE SW (there is no 33rd in this area – that is the alley). if anyone could make use of it please feel free to stop by and pick it up.
In the years since West Seattle’s only tiny-house encampment, Camp Second Chance, set up on the Myers Way Parcels, it’s been mostly low-drama. This week, though, a mention emerged in court documents for a previous accusation against the man charged in last Sunday’s double murder in Georgetown. LIHI, which has the contract to operate CSC, sent its Community Advisory Committee members – and us – this email about the situation today:
We wanted to inform you of two serious incidents that occurred by the same person who was a previous client of Camp Second Chance. One of these happened at Camp Second Chance and the other at LIHI’s Martin Court Apartments, which provides transitional housing for homeless people in Georgetown.
1) On August 15, John Williams, a client at Camp Second Chance at the time, had assaulted other clients. LIHI called SPD and he was arrested by police for these assaults and permanently exited from the site. We recently learned from a news report last night that in addition to these assaults, on July 18, Mr. Williams allegedly committed an attempted rape of a guest who came to the site with him. Please note that while the media reported this, it has not been confirmed with us by SPD. There were no reports brought to our attention about this incident.
2) On Sunday, Oct. 30, this same person, John Williams, accompanied a resident to her apartment at Martin Court. The police have him in custody as a suspect for allegedly brutally killing this resident and a guest of hers in the apartment. John Williams is not a resident of Martin Court. SPD was able to find and arrest John shortly after the tragic incident. We are fully cooperating with SPD and the investigation is still underway. Grief counseling is being provided for our residents and staff and traumatic leave offered for our building staff.
We are devastated by these terrible incidents and working closely with clients, residents and site staff to support them in the grieving process and recovery from trauma through counseling and other means. We have taken measures to increase safety and staffing.
Unfortunately there has been an increasing number of crimes and violent incidents at our sites, which is being experienced across the region by other non-profit providers, businesses, and neighbors. We are meeting with SPD soon to discuss these incidents and ways we can partner more closely together on addressing violent criminal behavior that impacts our sites, residents, clients, and staff. We are encouraging SPD to more consistently support the safety of our villagers and staff by allowing us to fully enforce our code of conduct and its zero tolerance policy on violence and helping us exit clients in violation who pose a safety risk.
The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office says that Williams was arrested July 19th in the attempted rape case, and that bail was initially set at $75,000 – half what prosecutors asked for – but that he had to be released three days later because SPD had not sent the documents needed to file charges (and still has not).
Then, after the August 15 arrest mentioned above, he spent eight days in jail, according to online records. Less than two weeks after that, he was arrested September 3rd for assault and weapons charges that were prosecuted by the City Attorney’s Office; he served his sentence and got out last Friday, two days before the Georgetown murders. What we don’t know is whether the August 15th arrest and “exit” was the last time he was at Camp Second Chance; we have followup questions out to LIHI. Williams remains in the King County Jail, held without bail.
Meantime, the next Community Advisory Council meeting for Camp Second Chance is next Tuesday (November 8th), online at 6 pm, and as always, all are welcome – we’ll have connection/call-in information in the daily preview list that day, and in our event-calendar listing as soon as it’s provided.
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