Update: Gunfire in Highland Park, no one hurt; casings found

(WEDNESDAY MORNING UPDATE: New info added to end of story)

(Added 10:40 pm – photo from neighbor who reports casings found in her neighborhood)
FIRST REPORT, 9:45 PM: We’re getting multiple reader reports of possible gunshots heard in Highland Park – no shootings on the 911 medical-call log, though – and a helicopter (believed to be the law-enforcement Guardian One) is overhead. The scanner indicates police are investigating – so far they have not found anything.

9:56 PM: Co-publisher is in the area and says Guardian One has left. Meantime, police are still checking out various areas where people reported hearing the possible gunfire, but no indication they’ve found any evidence so far.

10:15 PM: Nothing new, and the scanner traffic on this has quieted down. Earlier via the radio, SPD was reported to have checked with the county to see if anything had happened on their side of the line – the answer was no. We’ll follow up a bit later to see if anything ever turned up.

10:39 PM: Just heard from a resident near 12th and Elmgrove, where she says casings have been found and police are searching for more evidence. Added the photo she sent (atop this story).

ADDED 10:15 AM MONDAY: Just checked with SPD spokesperson Det. Renee Witt, who says police recovered nine casings in all, in the 7900 block of 12th SW. No injuries or property damage reported. Police were told that a white car, possibly a Gran Prix, was seen with a passenger pointing a “rifle out of the window,” firing shots “into the air,” but police did not find the car or any suspects.

42 Replies to "Update: Gunfire in Highland Park, no one hurt; casings found"

  • datamuse December 11, 2012 (9:47 pm)

    Heard ’em. Hearing chopper now too.

  • stacey December 11, 2012 (9:48 pm)

    Heard three gunshots about ten minutes ago near thistle and 17th sw. My partner was walking the dog just outside the house and ran back inside. The helicopter is making a tight circle overhead.

  • K December 11, 2012 (9:49 pm)

    Thanks– I knew you would know what was up!
    I didn’t hear shots, but the copter is right over my head.

  • Amy B December 11, 2012 (9:49 pm)

    I’ve been hearing the helicopter for last several minutes. I did not hear any shots fired, and I live in the Highland Park area. But we often don’t hear things because we’re at the end of an ally and above the street.

  • Peter December 11, 2012 (9:50 pm)

    Yes, indeed. At Kenyon SW and 9th area. Thought heard about four shots fired right about 9:30.

  • Megan December 11, 2012 (9:50 pm)

    Yep..we heard about 6 shots. Then loud truck leaving area…

  • zane December 11, 2012 (9:51 pm)

    Friend heard 5 shots and then 4 returns. guardian 1(??) overhead turning tight circles.
    anything on the police band??

    • WSB December 11, 2012 (9:54 pm)

      Co-publisher is in the area – he had been heading to check out a reader report of something happening in White Center, when we started getting texts about this – he says Guardian One has left. Let us know if you hear it return. I’m not hearing it on the radio channels – P.S. Police have been checking out various reported “scenes” per the scanner but it doesn’t appear they have found any evidence of alleged gunfire, so far.

  • Steph December 11, 2012 (9:52 pm)

    Wow you guys are on it! Didn’t hear any gun shots from Highland Pkwy & Kenyon but just heard the copter.

  • Rachel December 11, 2012 (9:52 pm)

    We heard something that sounded like fireworks (maybe gunshots?), but it sounds like it’s (the chopper) already gone from where I am at 13th & Cloverdale.

  • westcoastdeb December 11, 2012 (9:52 pm)

    You guys are quick!

  • Highland Pk family December 11, 2012 (9:53 pm)

    Definite gun shots very close to 12th & Kenyon. Two sets of several shots each. Didn’t hear a car. Very scary. We all hit the ground immediately.

  • Peter December 11, 2012 (9:54 pm)

    Thought I heard about four popping sounds right about 9:30. SW Kenyon and 7th.

  • zf December 11, 2012 (9:54 pm)

    Friend heard 5 shots then 4 returns. copter turning tight circles.
    Anything on the police band?
    16th & kenyon

  • chris hoffman December 11, 2012 (9:54 pm)

    Heard em at 15th and Trenton clearly.

  • Jane December 11, 2012 (9:55 pm)

    I live on 16th x Cloverdale. Heard what sounded like 4 gunshots at 9:30

  • Tricia December 11, 2012 (9:56 pm)

    We’re on 11th and Kenyon. Police came to our door, told us to stay inside (we weren’t outside??) at about 9:45pm. I heard about 5 or 6 shots.

  • dgordon December 11, 2012 (9:56 pm)

    At 9:30 on dot heard 4 gunshots one right after the other very close to my alleyway behind 17th near Thistle.

  • Jason December 11, 2012 (9:56 pm)

    Heard the shots, thought it was the movie I was watching but realized it wasn’t. Actually rewound the movie is to make sure! 13th and Cloverdale.

  • Keho December 11, 2012 (9:58 pm)

    Heard the shots, now hearing the helicopter. Shots were rapid, one after another, then a car took off spinning tires. Could have been a coincidence, as people drive shitty on 9th often. Best guess on location is somewhere around 10th and elmgrove. Thanks for staying on this stuff wsb!

  • cs in hp December 11, 2012 (9:58 pm)

    we heard 5-6 shots at 9:30, 11 or 12th and Kenyon- didn’t hear a car either.

  • 12 ave December 11, 2012 (9:58 pm)

    The noises sounded like they were right out of my house, I live between Kenyon and Elmgrove, it was first 4 distant bangs and then 3 loud bangs. A bunch of neighbors and I poked our heads out of our houses to see what it was but none of us saw anything. May have been a car with engine troubles? Who knows.

  • Aubbie December 11, 2012 (9:58 pm)

    I heard 3-4 shots. As I stood up to mute television, I heard another 3-4, or more. Went to the porch and saw all my neighbors in their windows… I live on 12th b/t Kenyon & Holden. The shots sounded nearby, and from the south. Then the helicopter… Eesh.

  • Steph December 11, 2012 (9:59 pm)

    Actually my wife an I did he’s something but didn’t think anything about it. Scary.

  • Kay K December 11, 2012 (10:00 pm)

    Go WSB. Be careful out there. The chopper is gone now.

  • John December 11, 2012 (10:02 pm)

    9:28 pm – Multiple gun shots (likely 2 sets of 3-4 bursts), relatively high caliber, near 13th Ave SW and Kenyon.

  • Marie December 11, 2012 (10:05 pm)

    Heard what sounded like 5-6 Gunshots (maybe a street away, very close)at around 9:30pm and then heard the return 4-5 Shots (a little further off). I am located on 10th Ave and Portland Street in Highland Park.

  • Ally December 11, 2012 (10:09 pm)

    I heard ’em too. Sounded like two separate guns. 2-4 pops, then 4-5 returned- very different sound. I didn’t hear the tires– close to 11th/Elmgrove. Scared the hell outta me.

  • Kara December 11, 2012 (10:20 pm)

    I heard the shots around 9:30 coming from 13th and Elmgrove, we live on 11th. Same sequence of pops as already described, but I also saw a white sports car speed away from the direction that I heard the shots. It had tinted windows and no spoiler. A few minutes later I saw it speed past my house on 11th heading south towards Highland park Elm.

  • ME December 11, 2012 (10:30 pm)

    Around 9:30pm. At 11th & Kenyon. Heard 8 shots all together.

  • Will December 11, 2012 (10:34 pm)

    I live on 12th between Kenyon and Elmgrove. Bedroom window faces East (towards 11th) and was partly open. Very clearly heard 5 shots what sounded like maybe two blocks away to the East then 4 more very close. If I had to guess I’d say the action was on Elmgrove between 9th and 12th.

    The last thing I do if guns are going off around me is run to the window! Turn off the lights inside the house and stay low. With lights off inside your house it’s very difficult for someone outside to see in.

  • 12th Ave December 11, 2012 (10:35 pm)

    Shells found on 12th between Kenyon and Elmgrove.

  • PW December 11, 2012 (10:39 pm)

    John, now you should know there is now way to tell a caliber by the sound a gun makes. The same exact round can make two completely different sounding blasts from two different guns.
    And what does ‘relatively high’ mean in your context anyways? That a .223 can make a tremendously louder noise than a .45ACP but is half the caliber? Gun shots are ‘relatively’ loud compared to most anything!

  • westseattledood December 11, 2012 (10:45 pm)

    If you saw anything, Please, call SPD and report it. Even if you think SPD probably knows, they might not…so please call asap and report anything.

    btw, everybody around there is on some kind of a block watch (formal or informal), right?

    I am wondering why there were no patrol cars cruising around? Kind of odd.

  • eric1 December 11, 2012 (11:27 pm)

    Photo kind of looks like a .223 case. That would qualify as “relatively high” as it falls within the definition of high power. Doesn’t sound like a “random” shooting as in you cannot conceal rifles very easily and the gun was brought there on purpose.

  • S-1 December 12, 2012 (12:37 am)

    Definitely heard gunfire.I live near 12th and Elmgrove. Was scary. Then the helicopter.

  • PW December 12, 2012 (5:12 am)

    What resource are you using where .223 is ‘high powered’?? It’s only one of the lowest possible powered rifle rounds!

  • McGruff December 12, 2012 (7:37 am)

    @PW: I’m no weapons expert, but if that’s a Remington .223 (or a similar 5.56mm NATO), it’s nothing to sneeze at. Please remember the 5.56mm is used in the AR-15 (civil version of the M-16). As people-killing goes, the .223/5.56mm is more than up to the job. If that means that someone’s running around High point popping off an assault rifle, I’d be concerned.

  • Eric December 12, 2012 (8:57 am)

    NRA high power rifle competition: .223, .308, 30-06. You can argue with them.
    .
    Arguing about cartridges is like arguing about shark bites: You are more likely to die from a great white bite but bull sharks attack more people. I just don’t want to get bit.

  • Jenni December 12, 2012 (10:48 pm)

    Heard loud gunfire last night ( 13th ave SW & Kenyon) 2 types of guns & cops out front of neighbors picking up bullet casings. Didn’t see anything except flurry of police & 2 choppers. Super duper ! I would rather hear Christmas caroling. Put those firearms away& bust out some holiday cheer!

  • John December 16, 2012 (9:19 pm)

    PW: .223 used in Newtown. Still not a relatively high caliber weapon in your brilliant esteem? Good luck turning around things.

  • Jenni December 21, 2012 (10:56 pm)

    Did the SPD ever identify these gun-toting hoodlums? Someone reported seeing a white Grand Prix car but no physical descriptions. I haven’t seen any police patrolling our neighborhood at all. I really wish they would drive through at least once a week. It’s upsetting to see 5-6 police cars all at Westwood village taking their coffee break together at the Starbucks. They need breaks but does the entire southwest precinct need to do it at the same time??

Sorry, comment time is over.