Video: Man shot with ‘projectile’ while walking dog in 4700 block 38th SW

(SCROLL DOWN for newest updates – 8:16 pm, video added with Lt. Ron Smith briefing media)

(Photos by Christopher Boffoli for WSB)
5:02 PM: Police and fire are responding to an “assault with weapons” call believed to be a shooting, initially reported in the 4700 block of 38th SW (map), which is just south of The Triangle. The victim is being taken to Fire Station 32, which is nearby. We’re en route. Police are searching the area – radio traffic suggests police believe the victim was shot while walking in the vicinity. More to come.

5:10 PM: Official police info via Twitter – “a man was shot in the mouth.” If you are seeing/hearing a helicopter, it’s TV.

5:14 PM: Per medic discussion on scanner: The victim is a 31-year-old man who was walking his dog when he got hit by a pellet.

5:20 PM: Police were using a bullhorn to try to get someone out of a house on 38th SW. Our crew on the scene reports someone has been cuffed. No formal confirmation yet if that is the, or a, suspect.

5:28 PM: It’s clear from what our crew is seeing and what we hear via radio that police are still trying to sort all this out, regarding the circumstances, and whether the person they were talking to had anything to do with it. Their search remains very active. We’re seeing Gang Unit detectives on scene, though it is always stressed that their presence doesn’t necessarily mean gang involvement is suspected.

5:40 PM: An update on SPD Blotter describes the “pellet” as “possibly (a) BB” and says the victim was hit in the right cheek. Still a very active search/investigation. The injury is described as NOT life-threatening.

6:27 PM UPDATE: Police are reported to be searching the house they’ve been focusing on.

6:33 PM UPDATE: Also via radio – the house is reported to have “checked clear.” (We still have crews at the scene but they’re on each end of the block, as close as anyone will be allowed.)

8:16 PM UPDATE: No updates of note. We’re adding more photos and also this interview with Lt. Ron Smith – who discusses some of what else police found, including damaged vehicles:

The streets in the area are back open as of about an hour ago.

9:04 PM: If you couldn’t play back the video – Lt. Smith says police have no idea what the victim was shot with, describing it repeatedly as an “unknown projectile” that went through his cheek and out his mouth, apparently without even damaging his teeth in the meantime. He told police he didn’t see anyone or anything – just suddenly felt it hit him. Lt. Smith says the search of the house turned up a .22 rifle but it had not been fired recently.

THURSDAY MORNING, 9:27 AM: Just checked back with SPD media-relations Det. Mark Jamieson. He says the “projectile” still has not been found; also, the person who was being questioned was released, no arrest made – this all remains something of a mystery.

169 Replies to "Video: Man shot with 'projectile' while walking dog in 4700 block 38th SW"

  • ~~Hockeywitch~~ May 22, 2013 (5:06 pm)

    We just had about 8 or 9 police cars heading North up 35th… Hope whoever got shot is ok and whoever did the shooting gets caught.

  • Tanej May 22, 2013 (5:09 pm)

    Hope all turns out well. Still LOTS of emergency vehicles & police cars still arriving on site.

    AND . . . yet another bunch of police cars!

  • shed22 May 22, 2013 (5:12 pm)

    Helicopters have arrived.

  • Bonnie May 22, 2013 (5:13 pm)

    Oh no! I hope he’ll be okay.

  • DTK May 22, 2013 (5:14 pm)

    Damn, you’re fast!

  • breezygirl May 22, 2013 (5:15 pm)

    Hearing what sounds like a lot of helicopters now! Thanks for the quick reporting!

  • whitestuart May 22, 2013 (5:15 pm)

    Lots of helicopter noise over California and Hudson

  • MTHS May 22, 2013 (5:15 pm)

    !! Holy crap. I live near there. My dogs were outside and suddenly started barking up a frenzy; must have been right when this happened. Wow. So hoping the victim is okay.

  • Emily May 22, 2013 (5:16 pm)

    Hi he’s ok on the way to hospital

  • Emily May 22, 2013 (5:18 pm)

    Our house is shaking with the helicopter overhead. Hoping the best for victim.

  • Florence Fiddler Lovell May 22, 2013 (5:19 pm)

    A couple of choppers over the Junction area still.

    • WSB May 22, 2013 (5:22 pm)

      Again, the choppers are TV ONLY, not search. In fact, police asked them to back off because they were drowning out what they were trying to do – get someone to come out of a house.

  • Jwws May 22, 2013 (5:20 pm)

    hearing copters near Genesee Hill, knew if I checked here would find out why. Hope all involved are OK. thanks WSB for great reporting.

  • vicki bc May 22, 2013 (5:21 pm)

    Heli is overhead of 44th and Oregon for some reason

  • Lola May 22, 2013 (5:21 pm)

    Yes they are hoovering above the junction. I was just going to take the dog for a walk also, I am thinking maybe not, if someone is shooting stray pellets at people. I live just down from the junction. Scary.

  • sven May 22, 2013 (5:21 pm)

    Is that what the helicopter I hear is about?

  • mookie May 22, 2013 (5:21 pm)

    What are the odds it being a stray pellet in the face?! I hope they catch the stupid perp.

  • 35this35mph May 22, 2013 (5:21 pm)

    Wonder if there’s any connection to the bank robbery with 1 shot fired in South Seattle earlier?

    http://www.king5.com/news/crime/Seattle-police-investigating-bank-robbery-in-Rainier-Valley-208545561.html

  • Westgirl May 22, 2013 (5:23 pm)

    Scary. Just a few blocks away and can hear the helicopters still. Hope the man shot is ok!

  • dave May 22, 2013 (5:23 pm)

    I guess it was just a pellet? So maybe a broken tooth, split lip, etc. They can penetrate skin, but not very deep.
    .
    One things for sure, toting one of those is a surefire way to get shot by the police since it’s probably hard to tell the difference at range.

  • Cls May 22, 2013 (5:23 pm)

    Craziness! WTH West Seattle!

  • GabbyG May 22, 2013 (5:24 pm)

    oh no. I hope he is okay. I hope this is not a new pellet sniper on the loose.

  • Lura Ercolano May 22, 2013 (5:24 pm)

    But why are the helicopters over Genessee Hill instead of over the Triangle?

  • pie May 22, 2013 (5:24 pm)

    I’m at 46th Ave SW – helicopter over our house for almost 20 minutes. Is this why? Seems a bit far away from the scene.

    • WSB May 22, 2013 (5:27 pm)

      Yes, the TV choppers were asked to back off, pie. They have very powerful zooms on their nose cams so they can get a shot from that far back. There is NOTHING else happening right now, trust me.

  • matt May 22, 2013 (5:25 pm)

    @whitestuart – hudson square or another bldg?

  • pie May 22, 2013 (5:27 pm)

    38th and what?

    • WSB May 22, 2013 (5:34 pm)

      Pie – I put a map link up. 4700 block of 38th is basically near Alaska.

  • kate May 22, 2013 (5:28 pm)

    Thanks WSB! I knew you’d know why helicopters are hovering behind my house ( they’re off of Jacobsen now).

  • Mike May 22, 2013 (5:29 pm)

    Can we walk into the news studio and start shouting and banging pots and pans? GO AWAY! If it’s emergency, fine, else leave.

  • pie May 22, 2013 (5:29 pm)

    And thanks WSB – I’ll take the annoying noise if they’re doing what they should, even if it’s over my house. :)

  • Kellie May 22, 2013 (5:31 pm)

    Two gang units just arrived on scene with what look like sniper weapons?

    • WSB May 22, 2013 (5:34 pm)

      Yes, the Gang Unit is helping investigate. They do help out with incidents that are not necessarily gang-related, so don’t draw any conclusions yet.

  • Jamie May 22, 2013 (5:31 pm)

    Emily- sounds like you know the victim or know his status? Was there someone there who could take care of his dog for him, or take the dog home while he goes to the hospital? I can’t imagine being out walking with my best friend (my pooch) and having that traumatic incident happen to me. I know she would be very scared if I had to rush off and leave her. Of course, I’m concerned about the victim, but if you can tell us the dog is being cared for that would be great. Poor guy and poor dog. People are jerks!!

  • DWS May 22, 2013 (5:35 pm)

    Call the studios!! Go away helicopters !!

  • Danielle May 22, 2013 (5:36 pm)

    You guys are really quick on informing us of what’s going on. Knew from here sooner then the news. You guys should really try to get an app that can be downloaded.

  • Chris May 22, 2013 (5:37 pm)

    cop with rifle just came to my back door to ask if I heard anything (midblock of 37th) – said suspect was still at large.

  • Poacher May 22, 2013 (5:37 pm)

    Pellet gun? My family and I, while traveling home to Gatewood area, counted eight police units traveling @ a very high rate of speed northbound on 35th Ave SW in rush hour traffic while heading home = More danger to public and officers from possible response overkill? or a slow-crime day?

  • I'mcoveredinbees May 22, 2013 (5:38 pm)

    Good God. :(

  • Lvnrby May 22, 2013 (5:38 pm)

    Wait, did someone say pellet gun? Should I be looking for a 7 yr old suspect in the neighborhood? Hope the victim is ok.

  • Azimuth May 22, 2013 (5:38 pm)

    Helicopter, please go away.

  • Lura Ercolano May 22, 2013 (5:42 pm)

    If the helicopters can film good news footage from a mile away, how about they go UP a ways, and take some pictures from up high? This is a long time for them to be making this much noise, disturbing not just people, but also nesting herons, etc.

  • Linda May 22, 2013 (5:43 pm)

    I’m with Jamie, concerned about the victim’s dog,wondering if he’s being cared for somewhere or running scared. Not that I’m not also concerned and worried for the victim but it appears he is being cared for.
    Any word on the dog?

  • Reid May 22, 2013 (5:43 pm)

    I think this may turn out to be some dumb kid plinking in his back yard without proper safety precautions.

  • Monica May 22, 2013 (5:45 pm)

    Thank you WSB for reporting so fast! I was out walking the dogs and saw/heard the helicopters. Hoping the victim and dogs are ok.

  • ELL May 22, 2013 (5:48 pm)

    So sick of all the helicopters in West Seattle! There are TWO hovering over our house and we are on the other side of California. Why is it okay to sacrifice all of us for their stupid news story that none of us are going to watch anyway because who watches the local news? Not to mention wildlife. Are there no laws about this, at least about the noise? And how long doe it take to film a house?

    • WSB May 22, 2013 (5:49 pm)

      Non-life-threatening injury, is how it’s been described both in official SPD communication and via radio. Which is good news.

  • Danielle May 22, 2013 (5:48 pm)

    Oh well I meant on tv. Okay I’ll do that. Thank you.

  • Civik May 22, 2013 (5:51 pm)

    If it turns out to be a homeowner in the area, I ponder if they were aiming for the dog.

  • John May 22, 2013 (5:52 pm)

    There are pellet guns and then there are pellet guns. They’re not necessarily something to laugh at. Some pellet rifles can push a pellet beyond 1300 feet per second, which exceeds the velocity of a lot of actual firearms. Because pellets are small, they are intrinsically less dangerous, but with a good modern rifle, you can certainly kill a rabbit and you could definitely do some damage to a person’s face.

  • LyndaB May 22, 2013 (5:53 pm)

    Now I see the two helicopters hovering West of of 35th and Findlay_ish. Totally south of the triangle now.

  • Diane May 22, 2013 (5:53 pm)

    jeez, why are people so upset about helicopter noise?

  • Erin May 22, 2013 (5:53 pm)

    Do we know what house had the pellet sniper, specifically? I live on that hill of 38th Ave SW and am coming home via bus now…

    • WSB May 22, 2013 (6:00 pm)

      Erin – a specific house address that MIGHT have been involved has been mentioned on the scanner but I will not repeat it because it’s very clear police are still working hard to try to sort out what happened and who did what. It is NOT necessarily a “sniper” incident – I have not heard that word used at all, in public or radio communications – Everything’s continued to focus on the 4700 block – TR

  • BB May 22, 2013 (5:53 pm)

    +1 Lura….. I feel bad for who was shot but does this really warrant 2 news choppers? I am pretty sure there is more important news right now. If the SPD is reporting a “pellet” I love KING just using “shooting” as a teaser…. Boooo

  • Alice May 22, 2013 (5:57 pm)

    WSB — thank you for not having an app. It’s silly that every website out there has an app also, and the app doesn’t have nearly the whole website’s info and it crashes over and over, and fills up my phone memory …..
    .
    Though, to be sure, even mobile websites are a bit less navigable on a phone than in apps. Someone should develop an “app for websites” that allows for something similiar to the mobile theme like the one you’ve got to port into an easy to navigate app format. For everyone.
    .
    I’m just rambling because I don’t want to think about this bad news day. I’ll get out of your comment stream now so you can return to scheduled programming.

  • BDM May 22, 2013 (5:57 pm)

    @ELL – I totally agree about the noise. Going on 30 minutes of deafening roar outside… Grrrrr….

  • Ca May 22, 2013 (5:58 pm)

    I’m looking at helicopter now hovering near edmunds and true value

  • West Seattle Hipster May 22, 2013 (5:58 pm)

    So many self centered individuals in our hood. Rather than worrying about a little helicopter noise, speeding cop cars, and nesting herons (classic), lets have some concern for the victim here and hope that the police catch the ******** that did the shooting.

    Wow…..

  • Christine Leonard May 22, 2013 (6:01 pm)

    I believe the police are at the 4700 block of 48th Ave SW. That,s what Channel 7. I am on the 5100 block on 49th and the new Helicopters are right in front of me towards Alaska and 48th…

    • WSB May 22, 2013 (6:06 pm)

      Christine – NO, that is not correct. They are in the 4700 block of 38th SW, as we originally reported. That is where the first dispatch was to, and we have two reporter/photographers on the ground, one at each end of the block. The choppers are further west, as noted earlier, because police asked them to pull back so as to not drown out their communication on scene. – TR

  • mookie May 22, 2013 (6:01 pm)

    @West Seattle Hipster-
    It is possible to do both. News choppers over a neighborhood for a scene like this is excessive.

  • Erin May 22, 2013 (6:02 pm)

    Thanks for the update…I used ‘sniper’ loosely :)

  • MTHS May 22, 2013 (6:02 pm)

    This is all so odd — it does seem like overkill but who knows what’s behind it. We live about six houses from where this occurred and the helicopters are getting really REALLY tiresome.

    That section of 38th splits down the middle with a green space in between, with one-way lanes to the left and right. There tends to be a lot of high school kids hanging out and leaving their garbage, folks who hang out on the steps drinking and leave the evidence behind, and some suspicious (I know I sound like Gladys Kravitz) vans where folks are in and out and they just park for awhile. We have collected countless bottles, cans, and even a couple syringes from our slope. Not saying it’s related, but it is a kind of weird “no man’s land” area.

  • Emily May 22, 2013 (6:02 pm)

    The victim’s dog is with a family member and is fine.

  • Lura Ercolano May 22, 2013 (6:03 pm)

    I just spent several minutes watching the live stream of video from one of the helicopters. 4 policemen stand in the street and talk. Another policeman walks down the street holding a clipboard. The clipboard is passed to another policeman. Etc.

    • WSB May 22, 2013 (6:05 pm)

      That’s pretty much what we’re seeing. They’re investigating. Nothing dramatic. We have two people on the scene, on different sides of the block – I just added a couple more photos – TR

  • robwestseattle May 22, 2013 (6:06 pm)

    Lura: can you link this live video stream?

  • BB May 22, 2013 (6:06 pm)

    Have the helis finally left?

  • Doug T. May 22, 2013 (6:07 pm)

    Yawn.

  • Christine Leonard May 22, 2013 (6:08 pm)

    Now they are saying 38th….
    But looking on google the street veiw is not what is being shown on TV.

  • Christine Leonard May 22, 2013 (6:10 pm)

    Thanks.

  • Alice May 22, 2013 (6:11 pm)

    “The choppers are further west, as noted earlier, because police asked them to pull back so as to not drown out their communication on scene.”
    .
    hahahahahahaaaaaaaaa hahahahhahahahhahahaaa
    Oh man, that’s awesome.

  • wingding May 22, 2013 (6:11 pm)

    What a waste of avgas

  • Lura Ercolano May 22, 2013 (6:11 pm)

    Hipster, the news helicopters are not part of the police investigation, and they are not there out of concern for victim.

  • JKB May 22, 2013 (6:11 pm)

    ‘Pellet gun’ is pretty vague. They range from the very casual to the potentially deadly.

    A shot to the eye or throat can always be serious, and the range of what’s sold as ‘BB gun’ or ‘pellet gun’ runs up to 1000 fps or so. At close range that’s quite dangerous.

    And they run all the way down to the laugh-it-off type that’s no more serious than throwing the pellet would be.

  • pie May 22, 2013 (6:11 pm)

    @ELL – poor baby. I’ve had both helicopters over my house for an hour. Yeah, annoying, but someone got SHOT. News was one, what’s wrong with that? Informing the public about what’s going on? And yeah. I’m 35 and not a hipster. I watch the local news.
    .
    The other helicopter was a police one. Oh, should they not look for a guy who shot a guy in the face while he was out walking his dog because they are loud and annoying over your house? again. Poor baby.
    .
    Just shut it.

  • helicopter overkill May 22, 2013 (6:12 pm)

    I will boycott both TV stations that dispatched helicopters. Our quality of life is more important than the hype they spew on their so-called “news.”

    Anybody know what stations they represent?

  • joe May 22, 2013 (6:13 pm)

    Seems like a lot of fuss for someone getting shot in the cheek with a BB. Alarming?Yes. But, seriously, helicopters? For an hour?

  • wetone May 22, 2013 (6:13 pm)

    Very tired of the noise, thanks channel 4 and 7 ..going on for 35min now sitting over the top of my house!!!! Going to see if I can file a complaint with FAA. All this for a BB gun shooting ? wow only in seattle.

  • Eric Thomas May 22, 2013 (6:13 pm)

    +1 for the overkill comments, boo. Get lost helicoptors

  • shed22 May 22, 2013 (6:16 pm)

    BB, yes.

  • Linda May 22, 2013 (6:17 pm)

    Thank you Emily, very thankful to hear the dog is being cared for. Also glad victim has non-life threatening injuries.

  • mary spencer May 22, 2013 (6:18 pm)

    wow lets not forget someone got shot in the face here

  • Based God May 22, 2013 (6:18 pm)

    @helicopter overkill – So edgy.

  • pie May 22, 2013 (6:18 pm)

    @Lura: Have you ever worked in law enforcement? Sorry, there’s a bunch of paperwork. Sorry if clipboards bother you…
    .
    And for the rest of you bitching about helicopter noise? Stop. They are trying to find someone who shot a guy in the face as he was walking down the road. The news heli is reporting about it, letting us know what’s going on. Deal. There’s annoying noise over your house. At least you’re not in a hospital with a face wound.

  • elaine May 22, 2013 (6:18 pm)

    Is there more to this story? Why does the helicopter persist?

  • dave May 22, 2013 (6:20 pm)

    I’ve been shot by a BB before. I think it took all of about 2 days for the tiny bruise to heal.
    .
    The LE and media response to this is so over the top its far more painful than that BB ever was.

  • WS Long Timer May 22, 2013 (6:22 pm)

    I second your comment PIE – stop the whining…deal with the helicopters – this isn’t LA, it doesn’t happen daily. Sheesh.

  • mary spencer May 22, 2013 (6:23 pm)

    how would you feel if this were somone in your family this happened too…

  • pie May 22, 2013 (6:23 pm)

    After reading all these past comments, I’m ashamed of West Seattle residents. “oh, helicopters are making noise and bothering me”.
    .
    Disgusting.
    .
    Someone got shot in the face while walking his dog. Who cares if it was a BB gun or a handgun. He was walking down the street. Shot by something. And you’re all pissed that helicopters were making noise over your house? They were over mine too. What? did they interrupt your TV? Ugh.

  • jwws May 22, 2013 (6:27 pm)

    Well said pie!

  • West Seattle Hipster May 22, 2013 (6:28 pm)

    “The LE and media response to this is so over the top its far more painful than that BB ever was.”

    Comment by dave

    I wonder if the gentleman at Harborview feels the same way………

  • Lura Ercolano May 22, 2013 (6:31 pm)

    If the helicopters are so all important, tell me this – why have they left? Is it because the police have finished their investigation? Is it because the shooting victim is all better now? No. The helicopters left because the news program is over.

  • robwestseattle May 22, 2013 (6:32 pm)

    News van just packed up and left. The revolution will not be televised.

    • WSB May 22, 2013 (6:32 pm)

      Yes, scanner indicates nobody was found in the house.

  • Jamie May 22, 2013 (6:33 pm)

    Emily thank you for the update on the dog. It’s reassuring to hear he/she is with a family member.

  • shed22 May 22, 2013 (6:34 pm)

    Are the copters back? It sounded as if they had left the scene but I am hearing one again, albeit further away.

  • Bonnie May 22, 2013 (6:35 pm)

    I agree with Pie. It is annoying but I’m more worried about the person shot in the face with a bb gun and who did it and why.

  • Jamie May 22, 2013 (6:37 pm)

    I also wanted to say: I live within 3 blocks of this, and have also had to contend with trying to get some important work done while listening to the helis circling over my house. I don’t care about the noise. All I care about is: that the victim is ok, not just physically, but emotionally as well; that the dog returned home and is looked after; and that they find out where the pellet came from and whether it was an accidental shooting (i.e. kid) or intentional (disgruntled adult), and if the latter, arrest and prosecute the person for shooting a random stranger in the face with a pellet.

  • BB May 22, 2013 (6:38 pm)

    If these were Police choppers I would understand. THEY ARE news heli’s hoping for a story….

  • homedk May 22, 2013 (6:41 pm)

    We live about 4 blocks from where this happened. Perhaps it’s a coincidence, but between 5 & 5:30 we had a strange car park in front of our house & do some rearranging of interior contents, then speed off. If it turns out that the person who shot the victim got away, we can provide more details.

  • Kristy May 22, 2013 (6:50 pm)

    This is the side street next to Les Schwab.. we used to live at the Link apartments and had to park our cars on that hill. I am not saying this is the same person but there was a crazy guy who lived on that hill and would pour paint thinner on cars.. slash tires.. leave odd notes on windshields.. etc. I wouldn’t be too shocked if this man was the same person who shot the man walking his dog.

  • Diane May 22, 2013 (6:51 pm)

    thank you pie

  • Steve May 22, 2013 (6:55 pm)

    I leave near Schmitz Park. Now that the helicopters are gone all I can hear are the crows. Who can I file a complaint with? I want the helicopters back! :-D

  • NeighborMom May 22, 2013 (6:58 pm)

    Hearing sirens on California. Is this still happening? I’m still locked in the house!

  • Cormac May 22, 2013 (7:02 pm)

    I lost an eye 15 years ago to a BB. So, yes they can be dangerous. If anyone has ever seen A Christmas Story you would know that you can shoot an eye out.

  • Greta May 22, 2013 (7:04 pm)

    I agree with Pie. Y’all need to stop whining and have some sympathy for the victim and his dog.

  • pie May 22, 2013 (7:05 pm)

    @Lura – Sorry the helicopters interfered with your day. The guy who was shot in the face while walking his dog down his street probably doesn’t agree with you.

  • pie May 22, 2013 (7:16 pm)

    @Overkill. you’re awful. Again, someone got shot in the face. So sorry you had NOISE over your house. Such an inconvenience.
    .
    @Dave. I don’t even have words. I’ve always loved living in West Seattle, but this thread is really making me wondering about what the people I pass on the street daily are really like. Your comments… do you have any compassion for your fellow residents? Gross.

  • Peter May 22, 2013 (7:21 pm)

    I don’t know what type of “pellet gun” they’re talking about, but in high school in the 80s we had CO2 pellet rifles that could pierce 1/4 inch plywood, roughly the thickness of a human skull. Frankly, those of you dismissing this as just a BB gun or something similar are being _extremely_ insensitive to the victim of assault with a deadly weapon. The jerk w/the gun should face attempted murder charges for shooting someone in the face regardless of the gun used.

  • dave May 22, 2013 (7:30 pm)

    peter:
    We are calling it a BB gun because it was a BB.
    Pie:
    Gross? Really? You’re right you really don’t have the words.

  • Alki Resident May 22, 2013 (7:30 pm)

    Peter ,you’re so right. And Pie, you too, sick of these whiners who didn’t get get shot in the face today. It seems people have become so desensitized these days.

  • B-check May 22, 2013 (7:32 pm)

    Guess WS would be a poor choice to start a charter helicopter business… anyway, hope the victim is ok – I saw the scene as I cycled home and hoped it wasn’t anything too serious. As JKB said, some of the pellet rifles are really powerful (nearly as much as a .22) – and as pie stated so eloquently, an innocent guy walking his dog in our neighborhood was shot in the face! Just take a deep breath, put on some noise cancelling headphones and think about how much more you’ll relate to the next Vietnam movie you see on tv.

    Thoughts and prayers to the victim of this senseless act of violence and/or idiocy.

    Cheers!

  • bhpmoto May 22, 2013 (7:35 pm)

    Maybe someday, assault with a pellet gun will be the worst kind of crime we see. Lucilly, today, that seems to be the worst news worthy crime. I can only hope that in the future, the biggest news story will be that somebody yelled at passengers o. A buss and is now receiving a mental evaluation and care.

  • Peter May 22, 2013 (7:40 pm)

    Dave, Thanks for the clarification. It seems shooting people in the face with BB gun is OK with you, and that’s sickening.

    • WSB May 22, 2013 (7:47 pm)

      **stepping in** Please stop and honor the civility code we attempt to honor here – I apologize for not intervening sooner – there’s obviously a comment somewhere in this thread that shouldn’t have made it through in the first place; we were covering the story and then I had to hurtle off to a community meeting (unrelated) I’m at right now. I don’t know how the victim is doing but they were reportedly able to speak with police at the hospital so here’s hoping that’s another sign the injury was not major. No word of any arrests yet, nor a clarification of the circumstances – we will continue to add any new info that emerges; we also have more photos and some video to add – TR

  • stephanie May 22, 2013 (7:42 pm)

    I’m ashamed of most of the people commenting on here. How could so many of you be so damn insensitive?!? I pray the guy only comes out of this with a bruise…

  • dave May 22, 2013 (7:45 pm)

    And for all of you foaming at the mouth about how you perceive some of us as insensitive, nobody is saying the cops should let this BB shooter go free. What we ARE saying is the crime committed does NOT warrant a media and LE response of this magnitude.

  • Westside May 22, 2013 (7:46 pm)

    Actually Dave, it was not a BB, it was a pellet. It did substantially more damage to the victims face than a BB would have. He was taken to the hospital in an ambulance, that should tell you something.

  • Mike May 22, 2013 (7:49 pm)

    The helicopters did not help the victim, they are irritating. Hope the victim recovers quickly and the police can move forward with the investigation which was hindered by the helicopter noise.

  • ANS May 22, 2013 (7:51 pm)

    Thank you Peter. Agreed.

    Doesnt matter the type of weapon or the severity of the injury, the point is someone had intentions to harm, we’re lucky it wasnt worse. Its a terrible thing to have happen. I cant imagine this happening to me while walking my dogs, which I do a couple blocks from the scene.

    And yes I question the medias motives, and know they make every story as fear driven as possible. Im surprised they’re not calling the bb gun an “assault rifle”, but get over the helicopters. Bet they made the suspect nervous, everyone knows whats up and will have an eye out for them.

  • Lura Ercolano May 22, 2013 (8:04 pm)

    This was a serious crime. I am glad that the police are taking it seriously and I hope the criminal is caught and prosecuted. I hope the victim recovers, and if there is anythng the public can do to help with either the victim’s recovery, or the dog’s care, or the police investigation, I am all for that.
    .
    I really dont mind being inconvenienced by noise when it serves a purpose, or is potentially useful for some higher good. I’d love to read others’ perspective on this. If Pie or someone else would care to explain how 45 minutes of helicopter noise in this case contributed to the higher good for either the victim the police, or the community, I’d love to hear your perspective on how the helicopter noise helped. Just because I’m not seeing the good in it doesnt mean there isn’t a good.
    .
    But don’t just name call. Explain yourself. Maybe even use a real name, if you have a real point worth listening to.
    .
    On the website of one of the helicopters, the 45 minutes of footage has been edited down to a voiced-over 20 seconds, and you can’t even watch it unless you first view a 15-second comercial for a casino, or a car company. I know ads are how news organizations support themselves, and that’s ok, but in this case it does contribute to the view that the helicopters weren’t just about stopping crime or helping a victim, but about creating sensational footage to sell ad space.
    .
    Even the police said the helicopters were loud, and told them to back off, right?

  • Linwood May 22, 2013 (8:06 pm)

    ANS, how do you know someone had intentions to harm?
    How do you know it wasn’t just an accident, and the “shooter” isn’t just a kid in his back yard?

    That’s a big assumption to make.

  • batgurrl May 22, 2013 (8:24 pm)

    My neighbor shot at us thru the fence a few years ago and just missed me BBQing We called the police and they said that a “BB”gun is still discharging a firearm in the city and illegal. A man died recently from a BBshot to the lung. So please do not discredit this assault it is very serious.

  • sc May 22, 2013 (8:37 pm)

    Welcome to living in a city that has television stations and news helicopters and people wanting to know what is happening.

  • Hello May 22, 2013 (8:43 pm)

    A BB gun = 9 Cop cars, 2 Choppers, 5 SFD Units, Swat & Gang Units.
    ONLY IN DRAMA SEATTLE.

  • KD May 22, 2013 (8:49 pm)

    To ‘pie’ and to ‘Emily’. THANKYOU, both of you kind and informative. Whiners, go away. I love the news, whether TV or of course WSB.. it’s part of big city living, go stake your parcel out in the boonies if you can’t handle the noise of what a big city and big city crime does. The victim is THE only important one here. Look how sad all the whiners made this comment section be! Wow! I wondered why there was over 125 comments when I first logged in.. helpful news and eyewitness, yes.. whiners.. stop wasting WSB space. ‘Linwood’.. for real?? ‘Just a kid’ or not.. the kid, the parents, all involved, this is serious. When ‘kids’ or stupid ‘adults’ do BB’s or pellets they think its harmless to shoot birds, dogs, cats, etc. THAT goes on everyday and is UNEXCUSABLE. Pain and misery to an animal is sick. NO REASON for ANY pellets or BB’s. cannot believe your statement. A crime was committed this afternoon folks, stop whining, stop downsizing and excusing. Thanks WSB for coverage. Sorry about some of the ‘space’ taken up on your blog.

  • Bob Dewey May 22, 2013 (8:53 pm)

    I don’t think the helicopters were there to inform the public. In reality they were there to film the police and their response to a 9-11 call that came in as a shooting. Wouldn’t you be mad if the police went in a house to search it and then got in a shoot out or big fight or found a dead body inside or something else that is a big story but the helicopters left because people are saying it was a BB gun. The reality is the news were there hoping the police made a mistake and they could catch it on film. Not to mention earlier in the month the southwest community center had what turned out to be a very minor chlorine spill in their chemical room for the pool. The building evacuated and road shut down and huge fire response filling the street and parking lot oh yeah and HELICOPTERS flying for the entire time during that incident (well over an hour) and yet nobody complained then…..

  • ANS May 22, 2013 (9:02 pm)

    Well Linwood, one can only hope that was the case. Would be nice, I’d feel a little safer in a way. But all anyone can do right now is assume, since they haven’t caught the shooter. Believing the shooter most likely had ill intentions is not far out there given the information. I could see it possibly being an accident if it was just one stray bb, but cars were damaged during all of this as well. If it was a child who accidentally did this, I hope guilt sets in soon and they fess up. But doesn’t look like it, and yes, that’s an assumption.

    • WSB May 22, 2013 (9:11 pm)

      If you haven’t checked back, please note the clip we have added with Lt. Ron Smith talking with us and other media. He resolutely did not use the word “bb” – the phrase was “unknown projectile.” So we’ve changed “pellet” to “projectile” in the headline. – TR

  • G May 22, 2013 (10:23 pm)

    I have to chuckle at the sniffy comment about Seattle not being L.A. Actually that’s quite true. In my experience in L.A. I’ve never felt myself or my property threatened. Oh, the irony.

  • G May 22, 2013 (10:37 pm)

    Is everyone in Seattle angry and uptight? It’s getting to the point where it’s getting really alarming – seriously. Not sure what’s driving all this hostility. People might scoff, but I think the weather has a lot to do with it.

    Just had to inject that; back to the regularly scheduled programming.

  • Lil Wash May 22, 2013 (11:03 pm)

    This is the same street that 6+ cars were vandalized a couple of months ago (my car included) and there have been break ins at the storage center behind Les Schwab. The owner of the storage center has cameras. I think this happend to far up the hill but the police might want to contact them just in case there is any feed they can use.

  • howard l. goodman May 22, 2013 (11:19 pm)

    I LIVE on 49th just no. of Oregon. The TV news helos hovered over my house for about 40 min. VERY VERY disturbing for these bastards to be making a racket, spraying exhaust down on us, and all for no purpose other than to yak endlessly about a man who hurt another man w/ his bleeping bb gun. We called all the TV stations, and 5 said they never put a helo up; 4 and 7 were the two that hovered. We told the TV 4 and 7 (by phone) to move ’em out !!! We were tired of the noise. One of them went, but then came back. Like undisciplined babies. WHO GIVES THESE BASTARDS the right to hover over one’s house for nearly an hour, stupidly and senselessly??? I ask you.

  • pjmanley May 22, 2013 (11:42 pm)

    Pretty sure you’re allowed to be concerned about the man who got shot AND be bothered by excessive helicopter noise. No need to pick one over the other. Sorry if that wasn’t clear.

  • Westgirl May 23, 2013 (12:11 am)

    I hear helicopters again?? I’m right near West Seattle Bowl.

    • WSB May 23, 2013 (12:13 am)

      Yes, there’s a new search going on. Not related to earlier incidents that we know. Will be writing something shortly … if I can confirm some details.

  • Tim May 23, 2013 (12:12 am)

    Is it possible this was just debri on the road (nail, screw, metal chip) that got flicked up into the air by the tire of a car passing by and happened to strike this poor man in the face?

  • Guy Olson May 23, 2013 (2:22 am)

    Howard L…. : are you ok? I hope you will be alright? It’s a news helicopter! Good grief man!!

  • redblack May 23, 2013 (4:39 am)

    the sun came out, and i was having a perfectly nice evening on the patio when the choppers showed up. turned on the local news to see what was happening. couldn’t find a damned thing.
    .
    that’s when i decided that the choppers were overkill and felt justified at being annoyed by their presence: over an hour worth of jet fuel waste and noise, and not reporting anything that would explain their lengthy presence.
    .
    KIRO and KOMO (or whoever) could have saved a lot of jet fuel and spared us the noise by simply going to WSB for their information.
    .
    as for the story that all of that noise led me to, yes, i’m concerned that there’s some nutter out there plunking away at random people, and i hope he gets caught.
    .
    and, yes, i hope the victim is okay, and i’m glad his dog is being looked after.

  • helridge May 23, 2013 (7:43 am)

    My car was shot at last week with a pellet. I was very thankful the back window wasn’t open because my toddler was sitting back there.

  • GabbyG May 23, 2013 (7:55 am)

    JUST FYI. If you have a tip on a person or past event that could be related to this in anyway, don’t just leave it in the comments! I guarantee you that police do not troll through reader comments for your tips on local crimes. The ONLY way to get your tip into the ears of police is to call the Southwest precinct and TELL THEM.

    • WSB May 23, 2013 (8:05 am)

      Actually, call 911. The front desk at the precinct is not continuously staffed. – TR

  • Peeb May 23, 2013 (8:08 am)

    So no one has been definitively caught or arrested in this incident? I would really like to know, since I live close to here and this hill on 38th is on my running route. I’d also like to know if I can continue to walk my dogs in the area, or if I should head in the other direction. If there’s a chance that I will be hit with a “projectile,” I’ll avoid the area.

    Since I do live in the neighborhood, I can also say that all the whiners really should shut up about the helicopters. My only problem with the helicopters is that they were making it difficult for the police to do their job. I was out walking my dogs and the helicopters actually alerted me to the fact that something was going on, so I went home and checked WSB, and of course they already had the scoop. The noise was not that bad and it didn’t last that long, so relax, people!

  • MTHS May 23, 2013 (9:23 am)

    I know that the blog has a policy against name-calling, and Tracy also stepped in and asked people to stop, yet there are abundant comments after that calling others names and dragging out a petty argument.

  • evergreen May 23, 2013 (9:52 am)

    I am glad that this was taken seriously, for someone could have died (read above comments about one death and an eye lost from bb’s). A child could have been hit. The helicopter was above my house and I had NO PROBLEM with tv stations reporting this incident in-depth. I am astounded by the lack of empathy some people have on this blog. If a projectile was aimed at your loved one’s head and tore a hole through his/her cheek, most of you would want everything done to catch the perpetrator. It could have penetrated the trachea, brain, or eye! I am grateful for the police and news agencies in taking this seriously.

  • enviromaven May 23, 2013 (9:53 am)

    I’m remembering the pellet/BB/projectile shootings near Lincoln Park (I think?) in the past year or two and wondering if there’s any connection to this one?

  • Dunno May 23, 2013 (10:05 am)

    Don’t like media covering a story in a large metro area.

    1. Move to small rural area
    2. Turn off your TV, Radio, Computer, and anyother device and get everyone to do the same.
    3. Get a sound proof bunker installed if you can’t move.
    4. The helicoptors are driven by ratings, which becomes revenue. When I hear helicopters in the air my first thought is to get on the West Seattle blog and find out what’s going on, after that I like to post complaints about the noise of the helicopters.
    5. Helicopters have saved thousand of lives. you need to look no further than the Moore, OKC on May 20th.

    6. Have a nice day!

  • SammaJamma May 23, 2013 (10:08 am)

    I’m really disappointed to read that so many people complain about helicopters over the fact that a guy got shot in the face (regardless of what kind of gun it was), while walking his dog in our awesome neighborhood. Seriously, folks…

  • Peeb May 23, 2013 (10:24 am)

    I think that latest addition should say “Thursday morning”?

    • WSB May 23, 2013 (10:26 am)

      Living in the future. Thanks.

  • TanDL May 23, 2013 (10:26 am)

    From the interview with police official, it sounds like they aren’t even sure that it’s a shooting, since they don’t know what the projectile was. Could be a sling-shot, a piece of debris thrown by the car, a shrapnel-like object thrown from a construction hammering project… any number of things. Until they find the actual material that hit the man, this kind of rush to judgment is almost as frightening as the event itself.

    That being said, I hope the victim recovers quickly and they figure out what the heck happened here.

  • Lura Ercolano May 23, 2013 (10:27 am)

    Yeah, and I’m really disappointed that so many people complain about the people who complained about the helicopter noise.
    .
    I’m still waiting for anyone to explain how the 45 minutes of news helicopter hovering made a positive contribution? Pro-helicopter posters have plenty to say telling others that they are unsympathetic, whiners, or should move out of the city, but they dont want to delineate the actual contributions made by the helicopters?

  • smokeycretin9 May 23, 2013 (11:50 am)

    I think the news organizations should make the move to jet packs.

  • Diane May 23, 2013 (12:11 pm)

    thanks evergreen; my thoughts exactly

  • DF May 23, 2013 (12:31 pm)

    Don’t want to sound nutty and am loathe to take this off track, but in follow-up to TanDL:

    Very small object hits man fast enough to pass through skin, cars in vicinity damaged, but no sign of any pellets or bb’s around any of this damage, no lead on a shooter of any kind. So why not a meteorite? (Apparently meteorite hunters can readily identify these and distinguish these from other pebbles, even if they look ordinary to the rest of us.)

    Just sayin’.

  • tk May 23, 2013 (12:46 pm)

    lol

  • Dunno May 23, 2013 (2:47 pm)

    The new copters are in touch with law enforcement and if there was a suspect on the run would have helped track. This was breaking news and there is what’s called a new cycle. People come home at different times and this helped alert those of us near the scene as to what was going on. Do I really need to go further. Sorry your life was so disrupted by a jerk and a person shot in the face. As for the tornado’s, check out how the news copters warned and zeroed in on exactly where the tornado was and headed. It’s amazing to watch how the copter stayed so close to the f-5. One of them was almost sucked in by 90 mph in flow. There is 55 min footage from the copters of the whole thing on youtube.

    • WSB May 23, 2013 (3:11 pm)

      In terms of being in touch with law enforcement – the “helping track a suspect” cases over the years are few and far between – it’s the same channels we have, scanners, public affairs if necessary, officers at the scene if they are able to talk (at the end of the day, you’ll note, SW Precinct Lt. Ron Smith did the official briefing, while media relations updated SPD Blotter from HQ or elsewhere, which is what they do these days instead of sending news releases; they also use Twitter, http://twitter.com/seattlepd ). Except for – as we heard while monitoring the helicopters’ radio traffic (our scanner has an odd little feature that picks them up if they are in this area) – the stations getting a phone call FROM police asking them to please back off because of the noise.
      .
      Having spent sixty million years in TV news, I am NOT anti-helicopter, but I do wish that the talk from years ago about getting everyone to pool – saving money and fuel – would have gone somewhere. One chopper, same feed, everybody gets to access it, costs shared, instead of the possibility that three helicopters will all be up covering the same thing in the same place. The last station I worked for, 13, does not have a chopper, but I learned a lot about the costs during my years as a producer and manager at 4. VERY expensive, including maintenance, safety precautions and training, and having an excellent pilot. Lots of other intricacies, too, including the fact that they have to maintain separate spots in the sky for safety, and the first person to arrive gets her/his pick. I don’t know if this is part of the use case now, but back then, the choppers did serve additional purposes – transporting crews to distant story sites (since Seattle stations serve an area of more than 20 counties) when it would take way too long to get there on the ground, transporting engineers to distant antenna or relay sites …
      .
      Two of the factors that also may well have played into TV coverage decisions last night – May is one of the months of the year when the ratings count for more than the rest of the time, in everything from ad rates to bragging rights, so the competitive pressure is felt more keenly; also, as observed by others, an event that happens when your newscast is on the air – as was the case here – adds an extra layer of urgency, with potential live coverage during a newscast, than if it happened at, oh, say, 2 pm. Same went for the Southwest Pool chlorine leak mentioned by a commenter; that happened during live evening newscast time.
      .
      TR

  • Emily May 23, 2013 (5:45 pm)

    The only press that had any class at the scene was WSB :) A camera from another news crew tried to sneak up people explaining to their neighbors what had happened. Not cool.

    The police and firefighters/aid peeps were all very nice, concerned and professional.

  • eav May 23, 2013 (5:55 pm)

    Did they ever catch the person that did this? How is the poor guy and his dog?

  • Dunno May 23, 2013 (10:23 pm)

    TR,

    Copter pool sounds good but you know news directors would not like it. Choppers are first with the pictures, like tonights bridge collapse.
    Some of the pilots have a very good relationship with the police. You know assignment editors have scanners going 24/7 like I’ll bet you do.
    I’ve been there when listner and veiwer information was given to law enforcement. You know a good relationship is essential.

    Takes time to get a news crew and link to the station. You’re right about the cost. Not much need to transport engineers up to Queen Anne, but I did hear about a copter being used to get a radio engineer to Vashon quickly.

  • redblack May 24, 2013 (5:25 am)

    TR: thanks for elucidating.
    .
    an hour of helicopters and – this is the thing everyone is ignoring – about 30 seconds cumulative video shown on the newscasts. and no timely or accurate information about what happened at all. sure, helicopters are cool, but as a “news” organization, can you justify that?
    .
    see the irony? “i heard (news) choppers, so i went to WSB to see what’s happening.”
    .
    of course, if you’re TR, you have to love the fact that WSB has become west seattle’s first source for news. the tee vee stations (and the cops) spend the big helicopter money and drive people right to the blog.
    .
    by the way, drones are cool, too, and could serve the same purpose for a fraction of the cost and almost zero noise. maybe KOMO could put a bell or something on their drone to let people know to check out WSB to see what’s happening.
    .
    again, i’m sorry for the victim, and for this side bar.

  • sam-c May 24, 2013 (7:34 am)

    I wonder if the people in Mt Vernon are spending their time complaining about helicopters, including ones that were there throughout the 6 AM newscast.

  • anette May 24, 2013 (2:02 pm)

    any word yet on what happened? what the material was that went through that fellows cheek. could it have been aimed at his temple? could it have been some type of laser? is somebody practicing weird sniper sh!t on us? gawd i hope not! its all very strange and hope there is a simple rational explanation and the guy heals speedily, of course. just too bizarre.
    as to the helicopter debate, can it be kept civil? obviously people have opposing view points but no need to name call and belittle.

  • kelly May 24, 2013 (2:44 pm)

    Thank you everyone for your concern.

    My brother is the victim in this incident. We are all still unclear as to what the “projectile” was and how it happened. One this is certain, whatever it was penetrated his cheek, missing teeth, but ripped through parts of his tongue and throat. The “projectile” exited the other side of his mouth and hit the car that he was walking by.

    He was released from the hospital and recovering now. The dog was picked up from another family member. The dog is safe and well taken care of.

    This is your neighborhood, the incindent affects you all. If anyone has any information please call the police.

    Again thank you for so many caring thoughts and concerns.

  • miws May 24, 2013 (4:19 pm)

    Thanks for updating us, kelly. Sending healing thoughts to your brother.

    .

    Mike

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