What we’ve found out about what sounded like gunshots

One of the things we do here at WSB HQ besides produce and publish the site is answer e-mail, Facebook and Twitter messages, phone calls, etc., that may never result in actual articles. However, if we get more than a few notes about something, that’s usually a signal we’d better publish the answer here too. Today’s example: About a dozen notes have come in regarding what sounded like gunshots just before 1 am today in the general Junction vicinity. We were monitoring the scanner then, as usual, and did not hear anything suggesting that evidence of gunshots were found; the past few nights, in fact, in other areas of West Seattle including ours, what was reported as possible gunshots turned out to be fireworks. But just to be sure, we have checked with the Southwest Precinct, and so far two lieutenants there have both told us no evidence has been found to confirm any shots actually were fired (no cars or homes hit, no casings found, nothing in the “significant incidents” briefing from earlier shifts; and we can confirm from online 911 medic/fire logs that there were no aid calls). As always, questions/breaking-news tips welcome 24/7 – here are all the ways to reach us.

JunctionMonkey August 31, 2009 (2:06 pm)

I can confirm that these were fireworks as they occurred near my residence (directly west of Junction)and actually woke me from a light sleep. There were about a half-dozen bottle rockets set off, some of which were “gun shot” like in report. I, too, at first shot thought it was gun shot until the next few went off and I was fully awake to see them in the sky.

WSB August 31, 2009 (2:11 pm)

Thanks, JM – that’s another reason we publish items like this if it’s a sighting that’s yielded multiple messages … SOMEONE out there in WSB-land probably has firsthand knowledge and will subsequently share it here … thanks again for doing so … TR

AJP August 31, 2009 (2:52 pm)

When I was 16 I drove our family’s old 1977 Toyota pickup (this was 1993). It had excessive carbon deposits and would shudder and backfire really loudly when I turned it off. One day I went to the public library (Salem, OR), and drove into the parking garage. A couple was making out next a car a few spaces away from where I chose to park. As usual, the truck sputtered and then–KA-BOOM! Scared the making-out couple quite a bit. I hurriedly ran away from the truck so as not to attract more attention to my crappy ride. In the library some time later, a friend of mine saw me and stopped by to say hello. “Hey, did you hear that someone shot off a gun in the parking garage a little while ago?” “No!” I said, all innocence.

Those gun shots you hear—maybe they are some poor teenager (or older) with a really bad car on its last legs hoping that no one noticed!

yo August 31, 2009 (3:17 pm)

I heard them. Definitely fireworks. 100% positive they were fireworks.

So much noise! August 31, 2009 (3:22 pm)

Those firecrackers pail in comparison to the metal grates being dragged off of road construction worksites this morning at 5:00 a.m.! Then the insult to injury of a jackhammer being put to use.

Mike in the Junction August 31, 2009 (3:25 pm)

It also woke me up quite abruptly. But as the last flurry happened it was very apparent it was fireworks. Every few weeks it seems to happen. I think everyone is still in a tizzy over the I-5 gunmen.

Lindsay August 31, 2009 (5:04 pm)

My husband and I were woken up by this sound, as well. I NEVER wake up for anything – I’m such a hard sleeper! However, these were really loud and I woke up thinking they were gunshots.

We live on the top of Genesee Hill and had a perfect view of the fireworks going off in the sky. Huge, white fireworks lighting up the night.

Westie August 31, 2009 (5:57 pm)

I saw the fireworks. They were yellow/white and very large. They were much larger than bottle rockets, numerous explosions with a spreading ball effect. I watched them from my bedroom window, after I thought I heard gunshots as well. I can’t pin point the exact house they came from, if I did the cops would know, but I can get very close. This is where I saw them:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=47.563873,-122.393398&daddr=&geocode=&hl=en&mra=dme&mrcr=0&mrsp=0&sz=18&sll=47.563927,-122.393441&sspn=0.001947,0.006866&ie=UTF8&ll=47.563927,-122.392416&spn=0.001947,0.004823&t=h&z=18

Amy August 31, 2009 (7:44 pm)

Yeah, fireworks somewhere between Oregon and Genessee around 48th or 47th. They woke me up last night too, and I’ve been hearing them off and on all day long.

Michael pradip August 31, 2009 (8:05 pm)

Hey, the fireworks were three doors down from my house on 47thth between Genessee and Oregon.
I was quite pissed that the A=hole would do this at 1:00 am in the morning, the jerk. We awoke thinking they were gun shots. I am very pissed at the jerks.

Sleepless August 31, 2009 (8:28 pm)

I also heard, saw, and smelled the fireworks. Started off as the loud banging kind without any lights, then ended with some white crackly ones. The smoke smell drifted into the window. I concur with the Oregon/Genessee and 48th/47th vicinity; we’re near Alaska & 45th, and I was looking out a west-northwest facing window.

Sue September 1, 2009 (10:45 am)

I also saw fireworks over the weekend, I think it was a block east of Fauntleroy, somewhere between Dawson and Alaska – I was driving, so wasn’t able to really look.