UPDATE: ‘Road rage’ suspected in West Seattle gunfire; bullets hit car, graze passenger

| Crime | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

ORIGINAL REPORT, 7:41 PM: Police and fire rushed to Admiral/California for an “assault with weapons” call. We’re still gathering information about what was reported.

7:49 PM: We are in the area and while SFD units are staged on California by Hiawatha and on California a block north of Admiral, we haven’t spotted police anywhere.

(WSB photos by Christopher Boffoli)
8:02 PM: Police and fire are now in the Admiral Safeway parking lot. The assault happened somewhere else and the victim showed up here. Responders are trying to sort it out. ~~The victim will be taken to the hospital with a leg injury, we are hearing.~~

8:15 PM: The victim is female and her wound isn’t major, WSB’s Christopher Boffoli has learned. She was in the passenger seat, a man was driving, and a boy was in the backseat. Police are searching their car to see if they can find a bullet ~~or shell casing~~.

8:41 PM: Adding photos, including a bullet hole in the car. Christopher says police at the scene will not confirm where this happened; when our Patrick Sand talked to firefighters before police arrived at the scene, they said the initial report had been that it happened under the West Seattle Bridge.

8:59 PM: Christopher has just talked again to police. They now say this is a suspected road-rage incident; the victims’ car apparently cut off a black sedan while westbound on Spokane near the 5-way intersection when someone in the sedan fired two shots into the victims’ car. Police have found two bullets, either 9mm or .380. The victims told police they followed the shooter’s car for a ways up Admiral but a 911 operator told them to stop. So far the only description of the people in the black sedan are black male driver and white female passenger.

9:09 PM: And just a moment ago, SPD Blotter published its own report. They say the 46-year-old woman in the passenger seat was unhurt; that is a change from the early reports, but sometimes information does evolve in situations like this. If you know anything about what happened or the person who fired at the victims’ car, call 911.

9:31 PM: Christopher elaborates that the woman *was* grazed by a bullet but it was such a minor wound that a band-aid took care of it. Very close call – he reports the bullet that went through her door was found on the console next to her seat.

Real change June 10, 2015 (8:13 pm)

Sad

Jeffy1091 June 10, 2015 (8:34 pm)

What the Hell is going on here in Admiral?

Curious June 10, 2015 (8:42 pm)

Any info on the people in the car? Age or anything? Know quite a few people in WS with children hope all is well.

Plf June 10, 2015 (8:44 pm)

What the hell is going on in west Seattle?

WSB June 10, 2015 (8:49 pm)

Every bit of info we have so far is in the story and that was hard-fought to get – this was not your usual, something obviously happened in one place and all the responders are there when we get there, type of thing – but it did not happen in the parking lot, as far as we understand; when we finally found firefighters staged by Hiawatha in the early going, they told us the first report was that it had happened somewhere under the bridge.

Kari June 10, 2015 (8:54 pm)

I know the family this happened to, they are all okay.

NW June 10, 2015 (8:59 pm)

I noticed a news media crew showing up and filming within the last 15 minutes as we drove by. Thanks WSB for the coverage!

WSB June 10, 2015 (9:04 pm)

Just added lots more info. It did happen in West Seattle, under the bridge, police now confirm. One TV crew arrived while we were there, I’d imagine others will pick it up.

WTF June 10, 2015 (9:36 pm)

PsOS!

RS June 10, 2015 (9:37 pm)

Wonder if any of the many cameras on Admiral, SPD or bank, etc could have caught the license plate of the black car?

sam-c June 10, 2015 (9:43 pm)

wow. that is scary. So glad the injuries were minor.
In the past, when a car has cut off my husband or run a stop sign, narrowly missing us, my husband has gotten worked up, wanting to follow and tail the bad driver. I always warn him, ‘don’t piss them off, you never know who has a gun’. Hard to believe that some jerk actually shot at another family in a car. hope they find the suspects.

Wsgal June 10, 2015 (9:44 pm)

Glad she is ok. When I heard Admiral Safeway parking lot I was not surprised someone could experience road rage (not justifying the action that followed) It’s the worst place to park in WS. Under the bridge or wherever, this stinks that we have multiple shootings in one week. And to the guy who was talking about “metropolitan city” in last Alki shooting post, I’m from NYC and heard of gun violence once in my area in 21 years I was there. NYC is about 100x the size of the entire metro area of Seattle and the prevelance of these crimes are far more noticeable here. It’s like people have lost their ability to control themselves all together.

ScubaFrog June 10, 2015 (10:08 pm)

Super scary. Hopefully they find the two miscreant perpetrators, and arrest them. The victims’ emotional injuries could be traumatic, thank goodness the bullet wasn’t over .5″… What a close call.
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My best thoughts and wishes to the victims.

Wsmom June 10, 2015 (10:10 pm)

The person who did this needs to be found. If someone is brazen enough to shoot at a car full of strangers in broad daylight, I am terrified to think of what else that person could do. I don’t like the term road rage in general-not critiquing its use here but just the existence of the term. If someone started shooting at people for being shoved in a crowded shopping center, do we call it shopping rage? Shooting at a car with people inside is assault with a deadly weapon. Thank God the family is ok.

me June 10, 2015 (10:13 pm)

This place has EXPLODED with psycho drivers in the past six months. And pedestrians!

Dave June 10, 2015 (10:44 pm)

What is happening to (& with!) this city?!
Too much growth, too soon?
Sad,just sad…

Hilde June 10, 2015 (10:47 pm)

Wsgal – this is a bit besides the issue, but your idea of the size of New York vs. that of Seattle is so far off, I feel I need to correct it: “NYC is more than three times as big as Seattle by area — the borough of Queens alone is about 27 square miles larger. And by population, New York is nearly 13 times Seattle’s size.” So “about100x the size”, as you put it, is nowhere near the truth.
Info taken from this link:
https://www.sparefoot.com/Seattle-WA-Self-Storage/How-Big-is-Seattle.html

Gabby June 10, 2015 (10:52 pm)

Wow, unreal. This couple will be caught for sure. SPD has top notch detectives, there will be plenty of video footage along that route, and there were likely other witnesses. Plus whoever in that car who didn’t pull the trigger will be an accessory to attempted murder if they don’t turn their friend in. Unless they want to go to prison, they’ll be on the phone to police as soon as they get a minute alone.

Eric1 June 10, 2015 (11:53 pm)

Gotta agree with WSgal. Some people just don’t have the maturity to control themselves. Prison migh let him develop a bit.
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Hopefully this couple hasn’t spawned yet. If we are lucky he gets caught quickly enough and put away long enough so that he can’t pollute the gene pool.

Mike June 11, 2015 (12:40 am)

Use the footage from the camera at the lookout that’s officially not turned on…that’s turned on.
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Glad nobody was seriously injured. 9mm can easily kill somebody. The more we can find out about the cars description the better. I think it’s time I just run my cell video camera on every commute. If anything happens then I have it on video.

Community Member June 11, 2015 (1:39 am)

@wsgal – “the prevelance of these crimes are far more noticeable here.”
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For most of your life, ANYWHERE you lived, you would only hear about something like this if you personally knew the victims.
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We are noticing these crimes, not because they are more prevalent, but because they are receiving excellent news coverage.

anonyme June 11, 2015 (6:48 am)

“They now say this is a suspected road-rage incident; the victims’ car apparently cut off a black sedan while westbound on Spokane near the 5-way intersection when the victim apparently, and someone in the sedan fired two shots into the victims’ car.”

This is a bit confusing, but the way I read it, there was gunfire from both vehicles.

WSB June 11, 2015 (7:09 am)

No, there was NOT gunfire from both vehicles, sorry, it was a hectic night and that’s just an error (dangling phrase when I wrote that sentence). Removing the “victim apparently” ..

WSMom June 11, 2015 (7:05 am)

That’s it. I’m sticking to Westwood Village. Much safer there than Admiral!

CD206 June 11, 2015 (7:18 am)

I’m sure if the victim followed the car for sometime they git the license plate

sven June 11, 2015 (7:21 am)

I would venture a guess that the shooter was not a resident but another summertime Alki invader from parts outside the city limits.

blanchus June 11, 2015 (7:34 am)

Community Member – I don’t think so. Better news coverage, yes. But much of this crime is new

JTB June 11, 2015 (9:00 am)

I note the comments that SPD should be able to access footage from surveillance cameras to help identify the perpetrators.

West Seattle since 1979 June 11, 2015 (9:22 am)

blanchus, do you have statistics or know where we can get some? And new since when? In the last year, or 2 years, or ….? It would be really interesting to see statistics.

It does seem like there’s more of certain types of crime and also more in certain areas than there used to be (Westwood Village, for instance), but also it seems like crime always escalates in the summer months.

livesnearby June 11, 2015 (10:01 am)

I know ragers aren’t thinking logically/clearly in the moment but it has to be such a dumb move to pull out a gun and think you wont get caught. Many people have dash cams or phones they use to capture footage. The news just showed video of a guy who filmed road rage in LA the other day. Also, houses or businesses nearby may have cameras. But most likely, there are a ton of cars in this area at this time of day who could have witnessed it. Stupid on so many levels. I’m sad and angry that this happens in the world and in our back yard for Christ-sakes!

Gifff June 11, 2015 (10:19 am)

5 Way intersection (Chilan St) is very dangerous. Most times I’m there, I see someone cutting someone else off. Still no excuse for road rage.

SDOT did a study last fall but I never heard if they plan on doing anything. Anyone know anymore news on this?

livesnearby June 11, 2015 (10:27 am)

Gifff that is where I was picturing it happening.. where the far right lane only goes to WS?

phil dirt June 11, 2015 (11:15 am)

I think the increase in shooting incidents and law-less-ness in general, as Baltimore has learned, is what happens when you neuter your police department.

WTF June 11, 2015 (1:10 pm)

No truer words @phil dirt. No truer words.

Chani June 11, 2015 (2:46 pm)

If they followed the shooter’s car a little ways, wouldn’t they have been able to get the license plate number, or at least a part of it, to give to the 911 operator? That should help this get wrapped up decently quickly.

Native June 11, 2015 (3:19 pm)

The Feds investigated SPD and found their behavior unacceptable and required them to change. I know you really wouldn’t want SPD to continue their ways if you knew about the details/there was a chance it would affect you or your loved one/friend in the future.
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Any neuter effect is on SPD, some officers have taken the attitude that if you don’t like the job I’m doing (violating rights, using excessive force, etc) then you just watch me do my job now. I’ll show you. Total union, us against them, mentality. Should not factor in to the job SPD should be doing. We’re less safe now because of de-policing.

Seattlite June 11, 2015 (3:26 pm)

In support of phil dirt’s comment: Sheriff David Clarke says it like it is: “Opportunistic politicians in high profile positions are bending over backwards trying to score some cheap political points. Aided by cop-hating anarchists, they are slandering your communities’ finest. Are we perfect? Far from it; but our communities would collapse into chaos without us. Most people get that.”

Felix June 11, 2015 (5:52 pm)

Calling BS on Phil Dirt….forcing Police to abide by the Laws they themselves have sworn to uphold is not Neutering.

Marylou June 11, 2015 (7:44 pm)

Happy this family is ok—I just feel sick in the pit of my stomach that they met up with two predators…

Wsgal June 11, 2015 (9:41 pm)

Excuse me Hilde- my apologies. When speaking size I was talking about population and wasn’t being literal but when comparing the population of Seattle Metro at 3.5 mil vs. NY metro at 21 mil that’s quite a substantial differnence. Especially considering 50% of that is squeezed on the an island the size of Seattle proper. Catch my drift?

Gabby June 11, 2015 (10:18 pm)

David Clarke’s comment is silly. And it is posted here quite out of context, and well out of his geographic range.

SPD has problems. They also have some terrific officers, especially in our SW precinct. Let’s not paint our police department with broad brush strokes. They are neither “neutered” nor are they infallible. Felix is right, they must abide by the laws they have sworn to uphold.

phil dirt June 12, 2015 (7:52 am)

To Felix, I agree with Sheriff David Clarke. It seems that a lot of the recent attack mentality directed toward our police department is a result of some members of the community at large, and encouraged by much of the local and national media, to act as if it’s OK to resist while being placed under arrest.
Well, here’s how I want my tax supported police to conduct themselves in an arrest procedure. I want them to use all of the force necessary, and no more, in order to make an arrest. However, If those persons being placed under arrest persist in resisting the arresting officers, then they do so at their own peril, and I support whatever it takes to bring those being arrested into compliance with the law. To do otherwise invites anarchy.
We, as a community and a nation, have specific steps that can be taken in order to rectify an inappropriate or an illegal arrest. But, no where in the law codes does it say that if one thinks they are being arrested unfairly, they are thus allowed to resist an arrest by duly sworn officers of the law. In other words ………….. your legal recourse is to take it to court.

Community Member June 12, 2015 (8:07 am)

@ Phil Dirt – Completely irrelevant to this crime.

phil dirt June 12, 2015 (8:38 am)

To Comment by Community Member: I don’t think my comment is irrelevant at all since I was responding to those readers who thought that I was wrong to say that the police, in a general sense, have been neutered. I stand by my comment regardless of whether you think it relevant or not. If an officer of the law chooses to ignore certain infractions of the law, as is in Baltimore, because of fear and uncertainty of how those actions would be interpreted, the word “neutered” seems to fit quite well.

2 Much Whine June 12, 2015 (9:08 am)

I find that on the few occasions when I don’t read the blog for a few days then (my awareness/perception of) crimes in my neighborhood drop dramatically. I think there must be a correlation between blog readers and crime levels! (Just kidding of course). Fortunately I still feel safe here on the peninsula.

Community Member June 12, 2015 (2:53 pm)

@Phil – do you believe this crime occurred because an officer of the law chose to ignore an infraction because of fear and uncertainty of how his actions would be interpreted? I am seriously wondering how you make that connection, and which officer you are maligning? You may think you are pro-police; I think you are slandering the fine men and women who serve the community as police officers and generally do their best under difficult circumstances. Accusing police of intentional dereliction of duty does not strike me as pro-police at all.
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@2 Much Whine – brilliant observation about crime levels.

phil dirt June 15, 2015 (12:38 pm)

Relax Community Member, nobody was slandering or accusing them of dereliction of duty. In fact, I wasn’t referring to any particular incident. Instead, my comment had to do more with the nation as a whole in its reaction to events in locals like New York and Baltimore, where the police have been thrown under the bus and made the goat by their mayors and city attorneys. Yes, and Seattle, too. I don’t blame them for ignoring the small stuff under the conditions in which they presently work. If I were them, I wouldn’t stick my neck out and run the risk of being made an example of by the local media, politicians, and misinformed citzens, either.

Sorry, comment time is over.