UPDATE: More than 30 gunshots confirmed in Delridge

1:23 AM: We’ve heard from several people about possible gunshots in North Delridge a short time ago. We haven’t (yet) heard any confirmation of gunfire – police need to find casings and/or property damage for that – and definitely no victim(s) reported anywhere. Though a few people mentioned hearing a helicopter, the area’s one law-enforcement helicopter, Guardian One, is nowhere nearby, according to the last transmission we heard. We’re still checking – please let us know if/where you see police activity.

1:35 AM: One person who heard it says the 911 dispatcher confirmed police are looking into this. We’re off to see if we can find where they’re focusing.

ADDED 9:39 AM: While the full incident report isn’t available yet, we were able to get a few details from SPD media-relations Officer Lauren Lovanhill: She says “multiple bullet holes were found in a residence in the 5600 block of Delridge (Way SW),” and 32 casings were found in the front yard and driveway. Four people were seen running from the area and getting into a car. And she confirms that, as we believed to be the case at the time, no one was hit.

ADDED 8:27 PM: As noted in comments, the precinct’s second-in-command, Operations Lt. Ron Smith, was at tonight’s Southwest District Council meeting. This didn’t happen in that district and so wasn’t on the agenda but we talked to him briefly as soon as we saw him pre-meeting – he said so far there’s no indication any of the recent incidents are connected, and that this is being investigated by the department’s Real-Time Crime Unit and “intel” unit. The written report still wasn’t available by day’s end so we’ll renew our request for it tomorrow. The meeting’s guest speaker was newly inaugurated Councilmember Lisa Herbold; she was asked one question about public-safety issues in general, and said one that’s on her radar for starters is 911 response times, and she is working to get documentation on that from SPD.

51 Replies to "UPDATE: More than 30 gunshots confirmed in Delridge"

  • Kiteran January 6, 2016 (1:37 am)

    I woke up to what sounded like a machine gun going through an entire magazine followed by a handgun unloading.

    Was hard to determine location but I would guess North of my home on 25th near Pho Aroma.

    • WSB January 6, 2016 (1:39 am)

      That sounds like the one address I’ve heard mentioned on the scanner but not necessarily with anything about gunfire attached – 5600 block. Thank you. Anyone seeing police anywhere else, please text our hotline 206-293-6302.

  • CD January 6, 2016 (1:41 am)

    First, I love the work you do here. The question I often have however is, where is the time stamp on your original posts? Sometimes in the feed I can find a timeline, but like on this post if there is no timeline there is no time at all that I can find. I know when you comment it shows the time, but when you actually post the article, is there a time stamp I am missing? I see the date and day. For example, I just got home and read this post about gun fire, but because there are no comments or postings replying to original post by you the WSB I can not tell how long ago this happened. (I can see that it was after midnight because it says the 6th) Half an hour, just now, etc. This has been an inquiry of mine for awhile now so I thought I’d ask. So sorry if it’s there and I’m just not seeing it. Thanks.

  • CD January 6, 2016 (1:42 am)

    So now for example because you posted an update the time is now there, it wasn’t before.

    • WSB January 6, 2016 (2:14 am)

      CD, you must be looking at the phone design? It’s programmed to show the date/time. Apparently for some it doesn’t display. Have never been able to replicate the error so don’t know what causes it but … Moot point because at this point it looks like our technical overhaul is days away from going live; more on that tomorrow or Thursday.
      .
      Otherwise – there are were three police vehicles, no rollers, just bright headlights, outside a small storefront on the east side of Delridge south of Findlay. No officers in view – apparently inside, though I couldn’t even tell that while going by multiple times – so no one to talk to. We’ll follow up of course …

  • Sam-c January 6, 2016 (2:01 am)

    There was a helicopter up, definitely, but it was only up for a few minutes. Around 1:15 or so. Gunshots were at 1.

  • Sharon January 6, 2016 (4:15 am)

    I heard the same thing as Kiteran and then heard a helicopter. I live off SW Brandon St. And it sounded like it was right over on Delridge. The shots were at 12:57am.

  • tiffany January 6, 2016 (6:03 am)

    We heard the same thing definitely a high powered weapon and then some!over off Findlay area?

  • K January 6, 2016 (7:34 am)

    My husband heard the gun shots and helicopter this morning. He thought it sounded like it was coming from near the Shell station (which is by Pho Aroma) and it wasn’t just a handgun but some type of semi automatic. I slept right through it. We’ve been on the 5000 block of Delridge for 2.5 years and I’m so used to gun shots that it doesn’t even wake me up anymore :(

  • Theresa January 6, 2016 (7:37 am)

    We heard an automatic weapon/gunshots (more than 12 shots in succesion) around 1 am and then the helicopter about 10 minutes later. The helicopter did not stay in the area very long. From what I could tell it was off Delridge near the 5600 block.

  • bob January 6, 2016 (7:37 am)

    I was the one that txt wsb at 1am last night. It did sound like one gunfire exchange followed by a second gun responding to the first gun around the corner possibly from the shell station area. But the way sound echos it may have been on a street. No cars were heard though

  • 935 January 6, 2016 (7:55 am)

    Handguns can be semi automatic…
    We fear what we don’t know.

  • Virginia January 6, 2016 (8:06 am)

    I counted 18 rapid gunshots after I woke; my housemate says there were 30 altogether. Yes, it was followed by a low-flying helicopter.

  • Virginia January 6, 2016 (8:13 am)

    I woke in the middle of gunshots and counted 18. My housemate, who was awake, counted 30. Yes, it was followed by a low-flying helicopter. I live near the top of the hill & it was still loud enough to wake me from a sound sleep.

  • Sam-c January 6, 2016 (8:57 am)

    Yeah, I lost track of the shots after 20, cause I started thinking, wow, never heard so many shots so fast before..and then unsuccessfully tried to listen to figure out where they were coming from.

    • WSB January 6, 2016 (9:11 am)

      I have the request out for the police report, after finding what I believe is the right incident number, and will add any resulting details above … TR

      • WSB January 6, 2016 (9:38 am)

        Update: The report narrative isn’t in yet but I’m adding some details procured from SPD media relations.

  • bob January 6, 2016 (9:48 am)

    Wow 32 casings! This is the second shooting near the super 24 in months. scary

  • Helga January 6, 2016 (10:27 am)

    Could there be some gang/turf war going on that we don’t know about? There have been what seems like an unusual numbers of shooting in that vicinity lately.

  • Dale January 6, 2016 (11:45 am)

    30 shots and no one hit? Thought that only happened on the A-Team.

  • Mel January 6, 2016 (11:52 am)

    “Wow! That’s a lot of gunshots!”
    .
    Basically that’s what it’s come to in that area – not police and the City doing something about the problem? 32 gunshots in a lot of areas would be considered terrorism. There are businesses (the few that will locate in “Brandon Node”), a school and a daycare within 2 short blocks. People should be irate at this.
    .
    WSB, how about some journalism, asking our officials what their plans are for ensuring that at least that location, which seems to be the nexus of repeated shootings, is made safer?

  • willbehonest January 6, 2016 (12:27 pm)

    Obviously gang related.

  • Alan January 6, 2016 (12:37 pm)

    @Mel – “how about some journalism” seems a little snarky. Other than those that experienced the gunfire, nobody would even know about it were it not for WSB. Have you checked the West Seattle Herald, The Seattle Times, The PI, KIRO, KOMO, KING, The Weekly, The Stranger? I have and I see no mention of this.

    I agree that it would be nice to know if there is some turf war going on and what SPD is doing about it. Personally, I would give WSB more than 10 hours to ask that question. In the meantime you might ask those other organizations, that have substantial staff, where their coverage is.

  • sam-c January 6, 2016 (12:44 pm)

    Mel- that seems like a good question to take to Herbold tonight for her casual conversation at the senior center- 6:30 PM

  • Lindsey January 6, 2016 (12:45 pm)

    People are irate. I am irate. That daycare is my kids daycare. This is my neighborhood.

    However, journalism is reporting the news, not advocating for neighborhoods. That’s not the WSB’s job, it’s our job as neighbors.

    SPD’s micro community policing plan lists the following contacts for the SW Precint. CONTACT THEM and ask those questions yourself.

    South West Precinct
    Ronaldl.smith@seattle.gov Operations Lt.
    Jennifer.Burbridge@seattle.gov Research Analyst

    • WSB January 6, 2016 (1:04 pm)

      I do have a question out to precinct Capt. Pierre Davis, for starters. And I was going to mention (got a little sidetracked by the Subway crash) what Sam-C mentioned – it’s a great question for Councilmember Herbold. She mentioned “responsive policing” as a priority, as noted in the comment discussion following our story from the inauguration meeting. But – Lindsey’s point is an important one. We report as best we can, and we report a lot. We also follow up long after even stories also reported initially by other outlets are long forgotten … trials, sentencings, etc. We do ask a lot of questions. But they are vastly more effective when community members ask them. We often tag out crime stories with mentions of the next Crime Prevention Council meeting, community council meeting, etc. … and it’s kind of saddening to sometimes see no one show up to ask police face-to-face what’s being done (and thanks to those who DO show up). I know life’s busy and it’s hard to get to a meeting, but maybe a neighborhood can rustle up one appointed representative, at least. Trust me, one question asked by a concerned neighbor is worth 100 asked by me or anybody else in my line of work. – TR
      .
      P.S. The next two public meetings at the precinct (Delridge/Webster) are:
      West Seattle Crime Prevention Council, 7 pm Tuesday, January 19th
      West Seattle Block Watch Captains Network, 6:30 pm Tuesday, January 26th
      .
      This also is, I believe, in the North Delridge Neighborhood Council’s area. They usually meet second Mondays, 6:30 pm at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center.
      .
      All of the above, by the way, are volunteer-run and could use more help/participation from neighbors who care.

  • JonnoN January 6, 2016 (2:22 pm)

    was on the scanner last night… Guardian One came into the area, looked around, and didn’t find anything.

  • Bradley January 6, 2016 (3:44 pm)

    So that’s 5 cents for each bullet x 32 = $1.60 for the City under the new Seattle gun/ammo tax. But, wait….I-594 was supposed to stop criminal activity with guns, too, right?

  • miws January 6, 2016 (3:55 pm)

    Wow, Mel, I can understand you being upset, a lot of us in West Seattle are at this seemingly daily gunfire. But that dig on WSB is totally uncalled for, and offensive. You owe them an immediately apology.

    .

    Also, Alan brings up a good point. I haven’t checked myself, but trust his word, that the “major” media didn’t even cover it. Even closer to home, I just checked West Seattle’s other news source, and unless I missed it, not even a mention there, either.

    .

    Mike

  • mark32 January 6, 2016 (4:34 pm)

    Thanks Bradley! :)

  • Elle Nell January 6, 2016 (4:46 pm)

    Hey Mel- that’s YOUR job, as a concerned tax payer or citizen.. WSB is journalism at its best..let’s not get mixed up. There is an old saying that us activists use.. “Stand up or fall down” Remember that while commanding active community members to do your job!

  • Rose January 6, 2016 (5:34 pm)

    “WSB, how about some journalism, asking our officials what their plans are for ensuring that at least that location, which seems to be the nexus of repeated shootings, is made safer?”

    @Mel, have you asked our officials this question already?

  • Ellen Nell January 6, 2016 (5:37 pm)

    I take back what I said, Tracy ! Mediocre at best..

  • Kiteran January 6, 2016 (5:57 pm)

    I stopped by the precinct today to discuss the shooting. I asked why that entire area does not have cameras. With the amount of crime around the Super 24, Shell, and DESC you would think cameras would be a no brainer.

    Apparently they are against the law in WA state.

    That block has so many good hardworking people. Every time something like this happens it’s just chips away at the community.

  • Kimbee January 6, 2016 (6:05 pm)

    I must concur with others here: use your voice and advocate for your community by getting involved with your neighborhood committees. Thank you WSB, as always,for your committment to reporting.

  • miws January 6, 2016 (6:15 pm)

    I take back what I said, Tracy ! Mediocre at best..
    Comment by Ellen Nell — 5:37 pm January 6, 2016

    .

    I smell a troll, pretending to be “Elle Nell”, adding an easy to miss “n” at the end of the first name.

    .

    Mike

  • Ta January 6, 2016 (6:29 pm)

    I interacted with patrol officers several times at the P-Patch this summer. They gave advice which I have shared with community members every chance I get. We need to report everything. Suspicious vehicles, suspicious people, drinking in the park, everything each time we see it. That is the only way to increase patrols here. An increased police presence would be one way of addressing the problems, along with activating the community. That is a side conversation, of course. The issue I see is that many people do not take the time to call activity in. I see numerous posts on FB in the North Delridge group that start with “I saw/heard this…but don’t want to call the police”. Please share the advice the police have given us to call, call, call.

    • WSB January 6, 2016 (6:41 pm)

      Thanks, Ta, and that’s what we tell everybody who contacts us to report possible gunshots, including about half a dozen people last night – please call 911 – the information helps them trace what’s happening where. Meantime, I’m at the Southwest District Council meeting, and was able to talk very briefly with Southwest Precinct Operations Lt. Ron Smith before the meeting (haven’t heard yet from precinct Capt. Pierre Davis but Lt. Smith said they’d been in meetings all day) – he told us they haven’t yet linked this to any of the other gunfire incidents, but it is under investigation by both the Real-Time Crime Center and “intel unit,” so it’s not just a case in which officers responded overnight and then moved on. – TR

  • Terry January 6, 2016 (8:09 pm)

    It’s cute when you all bicker.

  • 935 January 6, 2016 (9:04 pm)

    Just a general question…Is the word “community” becoming a proper noun? As “thug” “militia” and “conversation” have?
    I wonder, as one of the posters above have pointed out, the public drinking, the drugs, the lack of “decent choices” some partake in- does that make them NOT a member of the community? I mean, they probably live close by, or have family that do so, which would make them of the neighborhood, is that not part of the “community”?
    Does the “community” only consist of like minded individuals, and span the region, and you’re only a part of it – if you subscribe to the general mindset of the “community”? Is that not creating barriers and excluding others? Would a secluded/gated “community” where we could all share the same group think be in order? Something along the lines of Broadmoor, Medina or Augusta be in order?
    “Resistance is futile, you will be assimilated”

    More division = less equality.

  • waitasec January 6, 2016 (10:47 pm)

    i think that dysfunctional community members are just that. Dysfunctional community members.

    What is this crap about group think when the discussion is about cowardly jitterbugs shooting weapons?

    Are you suggesting that group think is ok in this regard? Group think doesn’t have to be in wealthy enclaves to have the pressure of assimmilation. Groups, as in GANGS??? Ya’ know?

    Gangs, small groups or whomEVER – that kind of group think is what shames the community at large.

    Get over it. These shooters are within this community and this community is as small as Delridge valley, West Seattle, city of Seattle and King County. Get it?

  • Marcus January 6, 2016 (11:06 pm)

    After reding these comments It’s nice hearing there are a ton of great people in the area. Just a few jerk offs out there so let’s keep the community going and squeeze them out.

  • Eric January 7, 2016 (9:45 am)

    LOL, @groupthink, did someone take a psychology 101 class and trying to insert phrases into discussion.

  • bob January 7, 2016 (9:55 am)

    You know what’s really sad? The businesses in the area that have to put up with this constantly. Pho aroma is a great pho resturant that we could use more of in the neighborhood. It’s a shame the mayor visits last year to maybe help the co-op open but then shootings like this keep happening.

  • DubC January 7, 2016 (4:00 pm)

    How can we have a police station right down the street, constant crime in a specific area, yet no constant patrols there? I never see cops around there. What’s the deal. I’ll gladly start a petition to lobby for more patrols in the area. Does anyone know how to get that started at a city/neighborhood level?

  • G. January 7, 2016 (4:48 pm)

    Please read what Ta said. If you want more patrols or emphasis in a neighborhood, here is what you start to do:
    – Call 911 for shots fired, drug dealing, witnessed stealing, suspicious activity – as a first call and before the WSB, or your neighbor or some committee. You can ask to be anonymous. If asked what is suspicious, say why you think it is suspicious, eg This car that I have never seen in the neighborhood has been driving through a couple times a day very slowly. We have had a lot of (fill in the blank) activity in the area lately and were told to report suspicious activity. At the end of the call, ask for the encounter number – a unique number given to each concern reported. Call, call, call. The more legit calls logged, the more attention an area gets. If 20 people heard the shots fired, 20 people should have called 911 to report it. If no one calls, the SPD, the city etc. have no record/idea of any problem. If another area calls more, they appear to have more of a problem with more citizens concerned about that problem.

    – After a 911 call, consider calling your community police team (CPT) officer. It is my understanding that for the Brandon Node area, this is still Officer J. Flores at 206-386-1088. If you want a return call, you will need to say that. These officer are busy and it can take a while to call you back. If you don’t ask for a call back, don’t expect to get one. Leave a message saying you just called 911 and please see contact/encounter number (whatever the 911 operator said it was). This helps the CPT officer connect the 911 call to maybe other messages he has gotten and things he is looking into.
    – Participate in a block watch, attend a meeting, be a squeaky wheel. Nothing you want gets done if no action is taken.

  • waitasec January 7, 2016 (5:27 pm)

    Perfect G.

    Thanks.

    You’re my kind of people.

  • Alan January 7, 2016 (6:43 pm)

    It has been a couple of months since I have looked at the Community Police Team. I was shocked to see that it would appear that Officer Flores is expected to cover the entirety of West Seattle, with the exception of the High Point area. Someone please tell me I am wrong.

    • WSB January 7, 2016 (9:03 pm)

      Alan – There are one or two Community Police Team officers who I don’t think have been formally announced yet but who have appeared at public meetings – we’ve mentioned them in stories. Perhaps we will get an update at this month’s Crime Prevention Council meeting. – TR

  • Alan January 7, 2016 (11:14 pm)

    @TR – Thanks! I was a bit shocked when I looked at the map. My experience with the CPT concept was very positive, especially when Officer Ballew was in Frank1. I wouldn’t have much hope for it, were one officer responsible for most of WS.

  • tm7302 January 8, 2016 (11:50 am)

    This is a problem that will only be solved within the “community” when that community decides that it will condemn these activities and turn in their own friends/family members.

    Until then, SPD can only police after the fact or when they happen upon a crime occurring. It’s not their fault, it’s just the nature of the beast. What we can do in the interim is report what we see. I refuse to be a victim, I live here and will take whatever action I deem necessary to protect what is dear to me.

Sorry, comment time is over.