Update: 2 overnight reports of suspected West Seattle gunfire

FIRST REPORT, 11:46 PM: From the “in case you were wondering” file – Sheila and Michelle both messaged us to ask about possible gunshots around 9 pm, audible from Delridge/High Point, roughly the 6000 block or southward. Definitely no shooting victims anywhere, according to the comprehensive, real-time Seattle Fire 911 log (where you would invariably see a shooting noted as “assault with weapons”); we also checked with Southwest Precinct Lt. Alan Williams to see if officers had been sent to look into this. His reply: “We had officers check the area, but they found nothing.”

SECOND REPORT, 3:03 AM: Now we’re checking on multiple reports of gunfire during some kind of fight/argument in The Junction. One person tweeted that it happened in or near the 4800 block of California SW. And from another person via e-mail:

> Two guys, one girl, seemed to be in their 20’s, fighting on the sidewalk, one guy notably louder. Things settled for a minute, then got loud again, culminating in a bang around 2:30. Shortly thereafter, police showed up. Part of the conversation I heard was that one guy pulled a gun, fired it in the air, and stormed off. Since then, at least four police cars have been cruising around, and things have quieted down.

Again in this case, no related medic calls on the SFD log. If we find out anything from police, we’ll add it.

Mike Flynn November 24, 2012 (1:32 am)

I often must make calls to the SPD with no sure knowledge of firecrackers or gunshots. Both are irritating to have to make, but obviously the latter would be worse. Glad whenever SPD can take a look in the area.

WSB November 24, 2012 (1:46 am)

I was somewhat looking forward to the proposed gunshot-locator technology, thinking it might help with some of these cases – help police, and help worried neighbors, and help us get info when people ask. Moot point, apparently, as I have heard it didn’t make the final cut of the city budget. – TR

Mark S November 24, 2012 (2:36 am)

Oddly (sadly) enough I came to the WSB to look for a similar post about a sound in the Junction at 2:30am.

WSB November 24, 2012 (3:01 am)

Got two other reports via Twitter, it turns out. Going to add something about it to this story. Trying to reach police again but might not be able to at this hour. Again in this case, we can again certify nobody GOT shot…

Lynnette November 24, 2012 (3:07 am)

We witnessed the single shot at approx 2:30am in the Junction in front of California Nails.
No one was shot. The shooter aimed the gun away from the person he was arguing with.

Guy November 24, 2012 (3:09 am)

Thanks for staying up late WSB!!

TLH November 24, 2012 (6:27 am)

It was no single shot around 9ish. Heard in the distance from Highland Park.

miws November 24, 2012 (6:47 am)

Wow! 30 years ago I lived right above where California Nails now is!

Mike

HighPoint Neighbor November 24, 2012 (7:20 am)

I heard a rapid popping sound that made me look out the window close to midnight. Couldn’t tell if they were fireworks or gunshots but it went on for so long (20-30 seconds) that i assumed fireworks. I’m in High Point but it sounded fairly far away–possibly down the hill to Delridge.

steve November 24, 2012 (8:17 am)

We heard the 9:00 noise and it went in for quite a while. I think it was fireworks.

MB November 24, 2012 (9:57 am)

The 9pm report was definately fireworks. We were startled at first and even my former military hubby thought it was gunfire, but when we went outside we could also hear the crackling noise after each pop, which is a sound made by fireworks. The hubby walked down to a neigbor’s a few doors down to investigate and he comforted they were in fact fireworks being set off from somewhere east of his house, toward Delridge. He could see them clearly from his deck. We’re in Sunrise Heights.

MB November 24, 2012 (10:13 am)

I obviously meant “he CONFIRMED they were fireworks” above and not comforted :) Just for the sake of clarity, since the edit function doesn’t seem to want to let me correct it. Yay for predictive typing.

junctioneer November 24, 2012 (10:23 am)

Good to know it was a gun-shot–it’s hard to know when to call the cops. Could we get some sort of guidelines? Living at the junction we hear people yelling at each other on the streets late night on the weekends like this relatively frequently. It always wakes us up. When do you call the cops? Always? This particular group was yelling for quite some time before the “pop” sound. There were other more muted pops following that sound some time later which made me think it wasn’t gunfire.

WSB November 24, 2012 (10:32 am)

Yes.

ramona November 24, 2012 (10:49 am)

I live very near the 9pm ‘noise’ and can confirm it was very LOUD fireworks.

truth be told November 24, 2012 (11:22 am)

We are also in sunrise heights and heard 2 very clear pops that sounded VERY close to 35th and Holden. This, I think was around 630-700p. I was outside and actually ran inside and turned off the lights because I did not know. Not sure WTH is going on…

whitestuart November 24, 2012 (11:43 am)

Like Junctioneer, I live on California and hear these fights frequently- “Living at the junction we hear people yelling at each other on the streets late night on the weekends like this relatively frequently. It always wakes us up. When do you call the cops? Always?”
What is the best phone # to use to call the police in these situations? 911 or is there a better number?