UPDATE: Shots or not? Police investigating Admiral, North Delridge reports

(Photo added 9:55 pm – by WSB’s Christopher Boffoli, who found police checking in Admiral)

8:45 PM: Thanks to everybody who’s texted/messaged about possible gunshots or fireworks heard in the Admiral area a short time ago. As we’ve replied to everyone, please call 911 when you hear something like this – it helps them zero in on what might, or might not, have happened. Once in a rare while, it might lead them to a shooting victim. One person who did call 911 says they were told some others have called and that police are heading that way to look around. The people we’ve heard from say they heard around half a dozen booms or pops. Unless they find something – shell casings, property damage – we might never know, but we’re mentioning it because so many people contacted us to ask about it.

9:35 PM: If you haven’t seen the comments – prevailing opinion seems to be, fireworks. No word of anything found so far suggesting otherwise. Meantime, we also have a couple reports of one “boom” heard, primarily in the North Delridge area. Police were dispatched on that, too, but this also hasn’t led to any discoveries so far as we can tell.

RT December 21, 2015 (9:01 pm)

It sounded like fireworks to me…..like a Roman candle. Did not sound like gunfire. I raised a shade to see if it was fireworks, but by then the sounds had stopped.

Stuie December 21, 2015 (9:06 pm)

From my hpuse it sounded close to Schmitz park near the back of Schmitz park elementary. I thought I heard crackle sounds afterwards which made me think fireworks. I heard the coyotes start to howl next.

GravyLady December 21, 2015 (9:10 pm)

We *just* heard a boom after reading this, it’s definitely fireworks of some sort. It’s Winter Solstice, maybe someone is celebrating?

kna8 December 21, 2015 (9:11 pm)

These were fireworks, loud ones, but fireworks nonetheless. Sounded like my neighbor, they do this every once in a while

Gina December 21, 2015 (9:19 pm)

Sounded like fireworks to me. A fizzling sound before final pops.

WSB December 21, 2015 (9:22 pm)

Thanks, all. Way too far for us to hear so I couldn’t offer a theory, but thought that publishing something might bring out some more info – like this.
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And you know … 8:49 pm WAS the solstice moment. But the first text came in at 8:35.

Villagegreen December 21, 2015 (9:20 pm)

I was out running and it sounded like fireworks to me.

Pam December 21, 2015 (10:08 pm)

I am sure it was 52nd and Stevens, there are one or two houses whose residents don’t give a fig about their neighbors and will randomly light fireworks year round. Tonight’s was especially loud and we heard clapping and cheering when we went out to look.

Stan December 22, 2015 (12:02 am)

I saw fireworks around 9pm in the north delridge area. They were starbursts.

H December 22, 2015 (12:05 am)

Herein sirens now its midnight, police scanner shut down not on line. shootings a regular now what’s going on. I left California but realized it is worse here than Compton California.

WSB December 22, 2015 (12:26 am)

H, I’ve been listening to the scanner for hours. Nothing of note going on right now. And our crime rate is not comparable to Compton, CA –
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http://maps.latimes.com/neighborhoods/neighborhood/compton/crime/
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Compton has had 17 homicides so far this year.
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http://homicide.latimes.com/neighborhood/compton
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West Seattle (same-size population, about 100K) has had two – and those were the first since the end of 2013.
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Two, of course, are two too many. But for context’s sake, since you bring it up.

JanS December 22, 2015 (12:28 am)

Dear H…no it’s not…hearing sirens could mean a heart attack, an auto accident, a fire…anything. If you actually heard gunshots, report them. Don’t jump to conclusions. It’s a big city..sh*t happens.

Ktrapp December 22, 2015 (6:40 am)

It was three booms that seemed too long for gunfire. It was definitely south of Waite, so Schmitz Park area seems probable. It was a good half hour before solstice (I checked on the timing). So if people were celebrating that, they couldn’t even get THAT right.

A-Red December 22, 2015 (9:09 am)

I saw fireworks in the night sky. 100% fireworks.

Matt S. December 22, 2015 (9:11 am)

I doubt it’s relevant but a house in the vicinity of 37th and Hinds was shooting off lots of serious (loud) fireworks when we were out for a walk. This would have been before dark though, maybe 4:30pm.

alkiwoody December 22, 2015 (5:51 pm)

Oh for heaven’s sake, people! It was fireworks. I saw them here on the upper side of Schmitz Park. One of my neighbors has a penchant for lighting the things off. With his restraint on the 4th of July he probably has a bunch waiting for any excuse. And, yes, usually after a Seahawks win too!

H December 22, 2015 (9:12 pm)

Thank you WSB for Compton’s stats, and Jan S its does make sense. But please answer why I feel this way. Shooting this weekend with crash? The poor lady coming back from her seeing her husband and mugged, the atememed break in possible related to mugging a few doors down from my house. No not feeling safe here. Please confirm the person who died today who was found after (understanding) the fire was separate response. Is it natural, or a homicide ??? All the report of Cheif Stealth, children caring guns, stole from what all the break in’s around her. The poor girls plowed down by a car? It’s a matter of time before we hit Compton’s numbers. I love West Seattle. But this year alone my house has been broken into three times. My vehicle has been broken into 6 times, my mail and packages stolen. I’m sorry for my opinion but wake up and look around you. I appreciate the WSB and Patrick and thanks for all feed back. Please be watchful in your neighborhood and watch for others.

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