Thanks to Joan for the photo and tip. The standalone Bank of America ATM in Morgan Junction (between West Seattle Thriftway [WSB sponsor] and Ezell’s Famous Chicken) is out of service after a break-in attempt early this morning. 911 was called just before 3 am by someone who reported two people using “hammers and crowbars” to try to get into the ATM. When police arrived, they were gone – leaving a tool behind that officers described to dispatch as “Jaws of Life,” apparently stolen from King County Fire District 2 (Burien and vicinity).

ADDED FRIDAY: Thanks to JB for providing this photo in a comment below:

ADDED SATURDAY: SPD released a short summary of the incident today, saying that the two people actually fled just as police arrived – in a blue Hyundai with no plates, “at a high rate of speed.”

Three reports in West Seattle Crime Watch:

DELRIDGE PLAYFIELD WIRE THEFT: Thanks for the tips. Days after resurfaced Delridge Playfield reopened, local sports programs discovered they couldn’t use the field at night because the lights weren’t working, apparently because of wire theft. We inquired with Seattle Parks and got their response this morning, confirming the theft: “The wiring was stolen during the final leg of the field-replacement project. It will be replaced in a couple of weeks and will be secured to reduce theft.”

EASY STREET VANDALISM: We followed up today on a snippet of police-radio traffic late last night about vandalism at California/Alaska. Someone broke this window on the south side of Easy Street Records:

It was not described as a burglary attempt and store staff told us nothing was missing.

GUN-WIELDING SHOPLIFTER: This happened Sunday but the police-report summary wasn’t available until a few days later. The address is at Westwood Village, but the business was not identified in the summary:

At 10:45 (am), the suspect walked inside a business in the 2500 block of Southwest Barton Street. The suspect grabbed merchandise and started walking out. It was reported to police that a customer inside the store hinted to the suspect where the line to pay was located. The suspect then pulled out a handgun and pointed it at the customer. The suspect exited the business and left the location in a silver truck. The suspect was not located.

Two reader reports tonight:

ANOTHER HYUNDAI TAKEN: Texter reports:

My light blue Hyundai Elantra was stolen off Glenn Way SW last night. Plate BJY4666. Police report # 23-295212.

PACKAGE THEFT: The photo and report are from Lance:

Had a package stolen off my porch this afternoon @ 2:37 pm.

8400 block of 36th Ave SW.

Two Crime Watch notes tonight:

(Monday photo: Memorial for bus-shooting victim)

BUS-SHOOTING VICTIM IDENTIFIED: “M.W.” are the initials seen at the memorial along 15th SW for the man shot to death aboard a Metro bus there one week ago tonight. When we photographed the memorial yesterday, we didn’t know what the initials stood for – but tonight we do. The King County Medical Examiner’s Office has identified the victim as 21-year-old Marcell D. Wagner, saying he died from “multiple gunshot wounds.” Still no word of an arrest, and no update since what we published Thursday night; we’ll check again with the King County Sheriff’s Office tomorrow.

DAMAGED, POSSIBLY DUMPED, CAR: Caren sent the photo and report:

Reported this abandoned car to Find It Fix It app. Car appears to be abandoned or stolen. Showed up sometime early AM this morning, Tuesday, Oct 10th. Obvious damage to rear window and driver’s side windows. Car is a Toyota Scion, unknown year. License plate is BNE9467.

It’s along a residential street in North Delridge. We’ll divulge the location if we hear from its owner. (Caren also is trying to report it to police but hasn’t had luck with that yet.)

This happened around 6:30 pm Sunday in Morgan Junction, Christine reported via email:

I witnessed a purse snatch on Fauntleroy 1 block west of Starbucks. Suspect is white male wearing all black/ski mask and drove off in red/orange small Kia. Cops were called, issued case number, and little old lady is okay.

Police audio from the incident doesn’t have much to add – noting two juveniles possibly involved. SPD incident # is 23-292032.

Four reports in West Seattle Crime Watch:

MINI-MART BURGLARIZED AGAIN, REPEATEDLY: Thanks for the tips. Customers report that the mini-mart at the Exxon station in Morgan Junction was burglarized not once, not twice, but three times overnight. Archived police audio and the incident log confirms the multiple burglaries reported in the 2 and 3 am hours. One partial description: Man in his 30s, dark complexion, black ski mask, khaki boots. Items stolen reportedly included cigarettes and lottery scratch tickets.

KIA BREAK-IN: This report and photos were sent by Hunter:

I wanted to report a car break-in at the intersection of Lander and 42nd Ave (next to the tennis courts at Hiawatha). I’ve been driving a rental for work this week. Parked it for the weekend and when I returned this morning I noticed the driver’s side window had been smashed in.

Nothing was stolen (nothing was in the vehicle).

Police report has already been filed but I wanted to let the community know as well! The incident most likely occurred sometime last night.

ANYBODY MISSING THIS CAR? Bill sent this report and photo:

Likely stolen car dumped on Avalon. Plates are spray painted. Damage to front right fender. Reported via Find It Fix It.

BIKE-THEFT FOLLOWUP: We published Dan‘s bike-theft report on Friday. This afternoon, he emailed this update:

Great news, I found my bike! I was walking to the bus on Saturday night in front of Westwood Village and someone was walking down the street with it. It was not the same person from my ring video footage and I talked to them and they said they had purchased it earlier that day. After explaining that it had been stolen from me and calling the police, they gave it back to me with very little resistance.

5:50 PM: Police are responding right now to the Admiral Safeway gas station after a report of an attempted robbery. According to dispatch, the caller reported at least two would-be robbers, one described as a white man in his early 20s with a black ski mask, the other a Black man his 20s driving a car described as a dark blue Hyundai Elantra with a dent on the driver-side door, no plates, last seen headed eastbound on Admiral after a staff member “chased them away.”

6:11 PM: Officers investigating that incident mentioned that it sounded like an “earlier robbery.” The call log now shows a “purse snatch” investigated about 15 minutes earlier in the 4100 block of California SW. We’ll be working to get details on that.

8:30 PM: Per commenters and archived police-radio audio, the purse-snatch robbery happened by Tram’s Salon, and was reported to involve two men, one in a ski mask, who grabbed the victim’s purse, briefly dragged her, then got away in a black Kia, no plates.

Five reports in West Seattle Crime Watch – the first four are from police summaries made public today.

STREET ROBBERY ATTEMPT: This happened Wednesday night but was not reported to police until Thursday afternoon, according to a summary made public today. The victim told police that he had left a restaurant in the 2600 block of Alki SW around 10 pm Wednesday and started walking away when two people “jumped out, pointed a handgun at him, and demanded his items.” But, the summary continues, “The victim screamed, which caused the suspects to flee and leave the area in a vehicle” without stealing anything. Neither the would-be robbers nor the vehicle were described in the summary, so we asked SPD. Det. Judinna Galpan responded: “Suspects: Two Black males in their mid – late teens. Wearing all black. One had a black bandana covering his face and the other possibly a red or black bandana. Vehicle: Tan or white sedan-type vehicle with no license plates.” If you have any information, the incident # is 23-288630.

These three other Wednesday incidents were also revealed in summaries made public today>

EARLY MORNING GUNFIRE: This was reported in the 6900 block of Delridge Way SW around 5 am Wednesday. 911 callers reported hearing “several shots”; officers “arrived and located evidence” of gunfire. No injuries. One person told officers a “blue sedan” might have been involved.

GUN STRUGGLE: At 1:45 pm Wednesday, officers were waved down in the 2400 block of SW Webster – just west of the Southwest Precinct – because two people were fighting. At some point, somebody “produced a handgun” and the two “struggled over it,” with the person who brought out the gun pistol-whipping the other person. Police say they recovered the gun and booked the person into jail for assault.

SHOT IN THE AIR: Then at 11 pm Wednesday, officers responded to a theft report at Westwood Village. Security at the business – not identified in the summary – told police that three people fled in a vehicle and that one of them fired a shot into the air as they drove off. Officers did not find evidence of gunfire aside from the witness report.

Also tonight, a reader report:

BICYCLE THEFT: This happened quickly, around 8:45 am today, when Dan went into his home for just a moment:

It was taken off my car when I ran into my house on Barton and 31st. It’s a pretty unique-looking bike and it looks like it was someone who just happened to be walking past in the 2 min I was in my house so I am assuming they are local. I got pretty clear footage of the person who took it.

The police incident # is 23-289429.

Catching up on reader reports:

CARS VANDALIZED: Sent by Susan:

[Tuesday] night between 5:30 pm and 9:45 pm, several cars including my own were keyed while parked on 34th Avenue SW between SW Barton St and SW Cambridge St. No leads, but a police report has been made.

APPARENTLY ABANDONED KIAS: Kyle reports, “Two Kias dumped on 12th between Holden/Austin overnight [Tuesday/Wednesday]. Both reported.”

Before the night is out, three more Crime Watch incidents we need to tell you about:

ROBBERY/ASSAULT IN GROCERY-STORE LOT: We just got a call from a longtime reader who wanted to be anonymous, a woman in her 60s who was robbed and assaulted in the Admiral Safeway lot tonight. She says it happened so fast – she was parked in the middle of the lot, around 9:30 pm, and a 4-door white sedan pulled up, with a man getting out of the back seat on the driver’s side, running up and grabbing her purse off her shoulder. He knocked her down, and she fell and hit her head, also banging up a previously injured elbow and replaced hip. The robber got back in the car, and they left via the 42nd SW exit. Her purse – a black Lesac – contained her phone and a red cardholder with her ID as well as debit and credit cards, which she says the robber quickly tried to use at gas stations and a fast-food restaurant. She says she only got a partial description – her glasses were knocked off when she was knocked down – 6′ tall, light to medium complexion, slender, light hoodie, dark pants. She says she screamed and someone called 911; police responded and SFD treated her at the scene. She says police also helped her get home safely and brought her a steering-wheel lock in case the robber came for her car (which is manual transmission, so they likely wouldn’t get far). If you have any information, the incident number is 23-286790.

NEIGHBORHOOD NEAR-CARJACKING. This one also was brought to our attention late tonight. It was caught on video that was provided to us by the camera’s owner, though he wasn’t the near-victim. He says it happened in North Delridge around 3:45 pm Tuesday, on 26th SW between Hudson and Alaska – a delivery driver left his car running when a passerby ran over and jumped in, jumping back out when the driver’s wife – in the car with their baby – screamed:

The camera’s owner says he provided the video to the driver, but didn’t know if the driver had subsequently reported this to police.

STOLEN WHITE PICKUP: Nathaniel reported this to us Tuesday afternoon:

I had my vehicle stolen on 42nd Ave in front of Nikko Teriyaki in the early morning of 9/29/23. It’s a white 1999 Chevy S-10, License plate # C78386Y. Incident # 23-282047

Three reports in West Seattle Crime Watch:

MAN SHOT: A man was treated for a non-life-threatening gunshot wound after an incident that spanned two jurisdictions. SPD heard from King County Sheriff’s Deputies around 9:30 pm last night that they were dealing with a man who said he was shot near the Delridge 7-11. They found him near a fire station in White Center. Police tell WSB the victim was “uncooperative” but with what little information he did give them, they searched the area in South Delridge for evidence of gunfire, but didn’t find it. He was taken to a hospital. If you have any information on this, the incident # is 23-285758.

SUSPECTED GUNFIRE: Multiple people called 911 after hearing this near Lincoln Park late last night – an area resident sent the video/audio this morning:

At the time, police responded, but we didn’t hear any report suggesting they found evidence of gunfire. We have an inquiry out now to see if that changed later.

TEENAGER ASSAULTED: We asked police about this first thing this morning after hearing from a parent late last night that this was being discussed by other parents. A 14-year-old boy was treated by SFD medics after getting punched in the face Monday afternoon, according to SFD dispatch audio. Here’s what SPD told us when we inquired this morning:

Police responded to a report of an assault in the 3000 block of California AV SW around 4:00 p.m. yesterday. Officers arrived and contacted a 14-year-old male who was walking southbound on California when a red Kia pulled up next to him. The suspect driver, described as a Black teenage male in his teens with black cornrows and wearing a black hoodie, threatened to assault the victim. The vehicle then came to a stop and a passenger described as a White teenage male with red hair exited the vehicle and assaulted the victim. After the assault, the White male suspect returned to the vehicle and it drove off. The victim reported possibly seeing a total of four suspects in the vehicle. Officers spoke with others in the area about the red Kia and the possible suspects. Police obtained evidence of the vehicle, which was not reported stolen. SFD responded to the scene to provide aid. Police did not locate the vehicle or the possible suspects.

(3000 California SW is the address for West Seattle High School.) The parent who contacted us said students reported seeing guns during the incident but police say there’s nothing about that in their report. If you have any information on this, the incident # is 23-285519.

Multiple incidents of car prowls and/or vandalism were reported in Admiral and North Admiral early today.

First, we have two photos from Timothy, who reported:

I’m sorry to report that 2 cars had smashed windows from vandalism last night on Walnut Ave SW between Hanford and Lander. It happened around midnight, when I heard my car alarm go off. Nothing stolen from my car. It would be interesting to see if others were impacted and if anyone has video of the area. I have submitted a police report.

Checking archived dispatch audio and SPD’s Twitter/X call log, we noted multiple car break-in/vandalism reports checked out by police early this morning, including at least four different addresses in North Admiral. We asked SPD whether final reports indicated that some or all of the incidents were connected, and spokesperson Officer Shawn Weismiller said he couldn’t confirm that: “This in an open and on-oing investigation and detectives will be looking to determine if the incidents are related.”

Thanks for the texted tip about that sign on the door at West of Chicago Pizza (37th/Alaska), closed today because of an early-morning break-in. We went over and talked with proprietor Shawn, who said the burglar(s) got away with some cash. He’s closed today mostly to recover, as he got the alarm company call around 2 am – when he arrived, police were already there – and it was understandably hard to sleep after he returned home.

P.S. Shawn says this will NOT interfere with his plan to add a new feature at West of Chicago starting tomorrow – a game room.

ORIGINAL SUNDAY REPORT: Police are investigating gunfire reported in the 1000 block of Harbor Avenue SW [map]. Officers have told dispatch they’ve recovered “multiple casings” in the angle parking area at Duwamish Head. Someone reportedly was seen “shooting into the air.” No injuries reported.

SIDE NOTE: Residents of this area are hosting a public “town hall” with the Seattle City Council District 1 candidates next Thursday – details in our calendar listing.

ADDED MONDAY: Here’s the SPD summary of the incident:

At 0229 hours, Dispatch received a call of shots fired in the 1100 block of Harbor Avenue Southwest. A witness stated that she saw two suspects exit a black hatchback vehicle and fire several shots. The suspects got back inside their vehicle and left Southbound on Harbor Avenue Southwest. Fired cartridge casings were recovered in the area. Officers conducted an area search but didn’t locate the suspects.

ORIGINAL SATURDAY REPORT: Police are investigating what was dispatched as “road rage” gunfire near 7th SW and SW Cambridge [map] around 3 pm. Officers subsequently reported finding casings at that intersection. The shooter was reported to have been in a newer-model white 4-door Toyota Camry, last seen headed “eastbound.” No injuries or property damage reported.

ADDED MONDAY: Here’s the SPD summary of the incident:

At 1500 hours, officers responded to a shooting/Road Rage call at Southwest Cambridge Street and 7th Avenue Southwest. The victim advised that a white vehicle was driving fast and cutting vehicles off. The victim turned onto 7th Avenue Southwest and the suspect’s vehicle followed him. The victim advised that the suspect pulled along the side of his car and fired rounds at him. The suspect left the area heading eastbound on Southwest Cambridge Street. The victim sustained no injury and no damage to his vehicle. Officers conducted an area search, but the suspect was not located. Officers located shell casings at the intersection.

ORIGINAL THURSDAY REPORT: Police have so far reported recovering at least three shell casings at the scene of gunfire reports near 37th/Manning. No word of any injuries or property damage. So far the only description information is “black sedan.”

ADDED MONDAY: Here’s the SPD summary of the incident:

At 2257 hours, officers responded to a report of shots fired in the 3700 block of 37th Avenue Southwest. Officers recovered shell casings from the intersection of 37th Avenue Southwest and Southwest Manning Street. Video was provided to officers showing two vehicles entering the intersection. A road rage ensued whereupon several shots were fired from one fleeing car. No victim located.

3:24 PM: We asked SPD today for followup information on a burglary-attempt arrest at 24th/Henderson last night, with officers reporting they found two guns on and near the suspect. They’ve added the incident to SPD Blotter. Police say they were called around 7:45 pm by a resident in the 9200 block of 22nd SW reporting “a man was trying to pry open the front door of his home with an unknown object. The caller yelled at the man to stop, but the (would-be burglar) didn’t flee until he heard the approaching police sirens.” Officers found a 20-year-old suspect nearby; he tried to run, throwing a gun out of his pocket. They caught him and found another gun in his pants. The SPD Blotter post included these images of the two handguns, and ammunition.

The suspect was booked into King County Jail.

11:14 PM: And after 24 hours, he was released from jail. We don’t have the court documents so we don’t know whether it was bail, recognizance, or lack of probable cause. He does not appear to have a record.

8:59 PM: Seattle Fire is sending a “scenes of violence” response to California SW in the Zeeks/Whisky West/Beveridge Place Pub area for a report of a stabbing. Police have already detained two people and recovered a knife. More to come.

9:04 PM: Police have told dispatch that the victim’s injuries are minor. We are headed to the scene to try to find out more.

9:19 PM: SPD and SFD at the scene tell us they’re still trying to sort out what did, and didn’t, happen.

9:23 PM: So far, here’s what police tell us they have: A man saw two juveniles tagging in The Junction. They followed him to Morgan Junction (by bus) and a confrontation ensued outside Whisky West. “Somebody” pulled a knife, apparently one of the two teenagers are who police detained, at least one of whom is being taken to the precinct. The reported victim has left the scene, and SFD told us they didn’t wind up treating anyone.

ADDED 1:59 PM: Commenters who were there have added much to the story. As for police, here’s the summary they provided us today:

-Police responded to reports of a stabbing in the 6400 block of California Ave SW yesterday at approximately 8:53 pm. The incident began some time earlier when a witness saw the two suspects vandalizing a mural several blocks away. The suspects saw the witness watching them and then proceeded to board the same bus as the witness. The suspects verbally engaged with the witness on the bus and attempted to spit on him. The witness disembarked from the bus and the suspects followed him, throwing beer bottles toward him.

The suspects followed the witness (now a victim) into a bar, entered the bar and started a verbal altercation with staff. The altercation quickly escalated to a physical fight. One suspect used brass knuckles and a knife to assault two people and was arrested for those crimes. The second suspect was arrested for misdemeanor assault and misdemeanor harassment (making threats).

SPD said someone WAS treated for non-life-threatening injuries, which hadn’t happened while we were at the scene, so we’re circling back with them.

In Crime Watch this afternoon:

STORE INCIDENT: If you noticed police in The Junction – they are investigating a report of what was first reported as a shoplift-turned-robbery at Junction TrueValue but is now described as a case of felony harassment/threat to kill. It happened after 1 pm. The suspect is reported to have said he had a gun. According to what officers told dispatch, was described in part as Hispanic, late teens to early 20s, around 6 feet tall, thin, carrying a black skateboard, headed southeast toward the nearby 7-11.

7:20 PM UPDATE: At tonight’s HPAC meeting (still under way), second-watch commander Lt. Grant Ballingham said that suspect had been found and arrested. He also said it was the second incident of the day at TrueValue, after a “robbery by force” earlier – no arrest in that one.

(back to original report) We’ve received several reader reports since last night:

CAR BATTERY THEFT: Sent by Dustin:

Just wanted to report a car battery theft at 42nd and Genesee last night! I haven’t seen this happen before in this neighborhood. Jeep Wrangler, no damage to the exterior of the vehicle. Just a popped hood.

SLASHED TIRES: From A: “Two tires slashed on my SUV Tuesday, 8-11 pm – parked east side of Avalon, bridge-side of the Rapid Ride stop.”

ABANDONED CAR: A texter spotted what appeared to be another dumped Kia near Hanford/California this morning:

Reminder that the Southwest Precinct is giving out steering-wheel locks again tonight, 5-7 pm, for people with Kia/Hyundai cars.

NEW TACTIC? Last but not least, this alert from Dan, who sent it late last night – what happened wasn’t a crime but he is concerned it might be a new tactic for setting people up:

Last week you reported the rear-end attempted carjackings and now it looks like they have evolved into a new method. I just had a van pull up beside me and honk their horn at me. The guy pointed back and I rolled my window down. He told me my tail lights were out. He was in a van and seemed to have a passenger or 2 in back. I got an uneasy feeling and when I looked in my mirror I could see the red glow in the car behind me of my tail lights working. Wonder what would have happened if I got out to check them. Please advise our community to watch out for this move.

From the inbox:

STOLEN HYUNDAI KONA: Elizabeth reports:

My car was stolen this morning around 3:00 on 45th Ave/SW Wildwood Place, I didn’t see who did it but was awakened by a car horn going off, I looked out the window and saw it at the stop sign being driven off. There was a white SUV vehicle following very close behind it, blocking other vehicles from proceeding by, around the corner near the Fauntleroy YMCA/Church there seemed to be some kinda backup with a loud pop, lights, then this sorta gold color I believe a Kia vehicle made a U-turn around the vehicles and sped off. It was bizarre. I did report this to the police about my car, if anyone at that time 3:00 am seen or heard anything please report it to the police. My license # is CBM1164, 2019 WHITE HYUNDAI KONA, the passenger side has a missing handle on it, tinted windows, and the gas cover is black. Police incident # 23-278858.

STOLEN SCOOTER: Jeb reports:

Stolen 9/23-9/24 in the night. Stolen from the Westside Flats apartments. Black double motor fat-tire scooter. blue glowing ring when it’s on. Has front and back suspension. No Moter sounds. Bike cuffs are silver and black. Head/taillights w/ turn signals are built in.There are some modifications made since this photo was taken. A plastic Predator skull (from the Predator movies) is on the front light. Also a pair of industrial motorcycle bike cuffs are under the front wheel. A more aggressive handlebar set with review mirrors.

No police report # yet.