UPDATE: Police investigating Admiral incident that sent 1 to hospital

2:57 PM: Several people have asked about an incident that brought police and fire to California/Admiral this morning. We talked with police a short time ago and they stress that the investigation is continuing but here’s what they have so far: Det. Mark Jamieson says 911 started getting calls around 11:20 am about a “possible robbery or assault” situation near the Wells Fargo branch at 2358 California SW. A man was using the ATM when “three young people approached him – they had words, and at some point they started to assault him.” That’s when the man picked up a rock and hit one of them in self-defense. He also pulled out a handgun as they scattered – no shots were fired but that too was in self-defense, so far as police have found. Officers were arriving by then and detained the man while sorting out what had happened. They also found two of the suspects, including the one who was injured, and he was taken to the hospital to be checked out. Det. Jamieson says they believe they know the third one’s identity. The full report should be available by tomorrow and we’ll be following up.

4:25 PM: We’ve heard from the victim’s wife. She said he was pushed to the ground during the attack and was going to a doctor to be checked out.

ADDED WEDNESDAY MORNING: As mentioned in comments, we have obtained the full incident report, with names redacted by SPD. You can see it here (PDF).

48 Replies to "UPDATE: Police investigating Admiral incident that sent 1 to hospital"

  • T Rex October 2, 2018 (3:23 pm)

    Good this man for protecting himself. Those punks deserved it and they are lucky that were scared enough to run.

    But they are such sweet boys….

  • Vanessa October 2, 2018 (4:27 pm)

    In broad daylight, in a huge public place. What kind of creatures are people raising and calling them children?

    • Jethro Marx October 2, 2018 (5:10 pm)

      We have not actually heard if they are children; they may rather be legally adults, but we are sure that they are humans. Dehumanizing language probably feels good to you, but it has a pretty solidly racist history, as well as somehow removing the responsibility to behave civilly from the alleged attackers. In fact, it is not clear that a crime occurred here, but I know how people hate it when I point that out. Good thing the guy was carrying a gun, though, huh? Otherwise he would have had to like, hit them with a rock or something.

      • Chuck October 2, 2018 (6:29 pm)

        What complete and utter drivel, Jethro. I don’t even know where to begin pointing out your wrong-headed thinking. So I’ll go a different route. Your HEART is in the wrong place if you even think for one second that approaching a vulnerable person at an ATM (by THREE strong young males, no less) is somehow “not a crime.” Perhaps not by the letter of the law. But someone in that position is extremely vulnerable, and these punks were looking to take advantage. Go ahead. Be their chief apologist. Let’s just see what you say when they come for YOU some day. Because guess what? They won’t give two shits about your ultra liberal line of thinking. They’ll just want your money like the other guy. / And to that victim, I say, Well Done, Sir! You showed incredible restraint reaching for a rock, when you knew full well you had a bigger deterrent. You are a model citizen in my book. Unlike the punks Jethro here honors. I am grateful for your safe outcome. Be well.

        • Alki resident October 2, 2018 (7:27 pm)

          Well said Chuck.

        • Floyd October 2, 2018 (7:33 pm)

          I was across the street when this happened. One correction should be mentioned. The victim hit the boy (who looked like a teenager) in the head with a rock to get away, THEN went to his car and got his gun. He did not have his gun on him when the rock hit took place. I DO NOT condone assault, but the man COULD have gone to his car and drove away to safety. Not sure it was the best choice to grab a gun, and run back into the situation. But I get it, he was mad. But what was he really going to do? Start shooting some teenage punks in the middle of a busy intersection? Hope he’s a really good shot (when he’s in distress) because about 30 people, including moms and babies (literally) are standing around. I think he could have taken a beat down rather than shoot misguided youth doing a dumb thing. Man was twice the size of the teens. Man didn’t have a scratch on him, kid’s face was bloody and busted. He was winning the fight. He didn’t need a gun. Just my opinion.

          • Naught A. Hipokritt October 3, 2018 (5:55 pm)

            “Misguided youth doing a dumb thing”, like Brett Kavanaugh? You can’t excuse one and not the other.

          • ltfd October 4, 2018 (1:05 pm)

            Your assertion of no injuries to the victim is contradicted by the investigating officer’s report.

        • Jethro Marx October 2, 2018 (8:19 pm)

          Facts don’t play politics: the criminality of an act is quite literally determined by the letter of the law. I’m getting my knowledge of this situation from the story above, in which the police arrested no one, one party was detained, and one party was taken to a hospital. Were you there? I’m curious how you know the gender and relative strength of the three. Are you perhaps just assuming and looking to transfer your anger and murky political musings onto where my “heart” is? ‘Cause that’s wack.

          • MsD October 2, 2018 (10:38 pm)

            And I’m curious how you know the race of the three, allowing you to accuse other commenters of racism.

          • carole October 2, 2018 (10:38 pm)

            Well, the report is that it was 3 to 1 and the victim was pushed to the ground, so that would constitute assault. The police detained 2 of them and they think they know who the 3rd is. It doesn’t say they weren’t arrested and that the investigation is continuing. After investigation charges may indeed be filed. And the victim will incur medical bills to be checked for potential injury. So yes, it appears this does constitute a criminal act, maybe more than one: assault and attempted robbery. And no one mentioned race.

          • Canton October 2, 2018 (11:25 pm)

            Sorry man… Chuck is spot on. No gun involved… The man saw 3 assailants, reached for possible protection, and prevailed. No NRA, unless you replace the rifle with rock.

          • Anon October 3, 2018 (12:20 am)

            U correct and very smart. Don’t listen to everyone else jethro

      • KM October 2, 2018 (8:22 pm)

        I’m exhausted.

      • Alwaysracial October 3, 2018 (5:16 pm)

        @jethro- do you know Vanessa’s ethnicity? Or do you just assume that anyone calling an assailant “creature” is not of color..? (Kinda racist of you, jethro.) We know from report that at least one assailant is a white male, and we don’t know Vanessa’s ethnicity, or that of the other assailants. We do know that assailants are humans, and humans are creatures, right? So, is it possible that there was no racist remark, and that maybe you are wired to wrongly perceive comments as racially charged? (Is that racist? I can’t keep up..)

  • Alki resident October 2, 2018 (5:28 pm)

    Good for the victim to be armed. I was making my way to that bank the exact time but got sidetracked. I easily could’ve witnessed this or became a victim myself. Really angers me.

    • Mr J October 2, 2018 (6:19 pm)

      Its great to see people making it about themselves. We need more of that in this world.

      Crimes of convenience and property crimes are on the rise across the city. Demonizing people doesn’t help. Being involved and concerned with our fellow humans does help. Engaging the police and encouraging more beat work helps.

  • MJ October 2, 2018 (6:08 pm)

    When will this stop? Who pays for the victims doctor bill?

    • Jort October 3, 2018 (3:19 pm)

      >> When will this stop?

      I’m guessing never? Crime has been happening since the dawn of humanity, I doubt Seattle will be the first city in human history to eliminate it.

  • KD October 2, 2018 (9:12 pm)

    Jethro Marx… Just STOP! The only one promoting racism is you. No excuse for any robbery or threatening another person minding their own errands and business. YOU are the racist. No skin color or demographics excuse any of the thug or punk actions. Really stretching it there, aren’t you?!!

    • CAM October 3, 2018 (12:13 am)

      “No one is promoting racism but you! Now excuse me while I use some more racially charged language to fight against your call for civility.” Oh, and nobody was excusing any behavior. I don’t know what you read but essentially Jethro said that we don’t know all the circumstances yet so let’s wait and see before we start tarring and feathering everyone.

      • Concerned October 3, 2018 (5:03 am)

        Actually they made a straw man argument throwing in racism when none was implied

        • Jethro Marx October 3, 2018 (8:37 am)

          That’s not what a straw man argument is.

          • Concerned October 3, 2018 (11:12 am)

            Straw Man Argument: A straw man is a common form of argument and is an informal fallacy based on giving the impression of refuting an opponent’s argument, while actually refuting an argument that was not presented by that opponent.

            Concerned: you invoked racism into the discussion when racism wasn’t even implied. Yes it is. Shall we also call it a Red Herring?

          • Jethro Marx October 3, 2018 (12:57 pm)

            I think you ought to read more carefully, whether it’s the article, the associated comments, or Wikipedia or wherever you are learning rhetoric. I stand by my claim that using language referring to humans as “creatures” or “animals” or whatever other way you choose to dehumanize the alleged assailants is unwise on two counts: it has historically been used to express racist ideas, and it removes accountability, since we do not have the same expectations for a creature as a human. In any case, my injection of race into the discussion referred to the “creature” comment, not the unfortunate incident. This is a pretty boring explanation, and I’m sorry, but words are important, and I think it’s probably a good idea to think about why y’all get so riled when race IS brought into the discussion.

          • Ain't right October 3, 2018 (1:19 pm)

            @jethro- People get riled when you wrongly accuse them of racism or imply that they are racist- because they may not be and made no racist remark. You call anyone who expresses concern about any crime a racist- that’s your answer to everything, as you make every event about you and your misguided social justice. Those attackers ARE creatures. I’m a creature, and you are too. All humans are creatures. Get off it.

          • Concerned October 3, 2018 (4:39 pm)

            You can claim it all you want, you’re still demonstrating an argument against something that wasn’t even implied. So maybe you should do some reading

    • heyalki October 3, 2018 (7:40 am)

      Personally, I find it extremely easy to avoid assaulting people. So easy in fact, that this has never happened to me, and I don’t even have to think about it. Wow. Amazing.

  • T Rex October 3, 2018 (7:31 am)

    “I think he could have taken a beat down rather than shoot misguided youth doing a dumb thing. Man was twice the size of the teens. ”

    WSB Quote of the year my friends, quote of the year. Seattle never ceases to amaze me in the Utopia world in which some of you live.

    Unless this guy was a former Navy Seal or Army Ranger, he more than likely would have lost that physical battle because three against one has nothing to do with size. He defended himself. In fact if I had been approached by three youths while standing at the ATM, I would have instantly picked something up to let them know I was serious on not taking their crap. It is not a very nice world sometimes, I’m certainly not going to interview them while that are talking sh*it to me to see of they are misguided.

    Maybe, just maybe he got the gun to actually make sure these “misguided youths” did not hurt anyone else, it was a scare tactic and it worked. I would have done the exact same thing. However, I would never leave a gun in a car, if you have your concealed carry permit, it should be on your person. Because misguided youths love to break in to peoples cars and homes and steal your crap.

    Maybe their misguided parents could shed some light on their behavior.

  • Annoyed October 3, 2018 (8:08 am)

    These comments are all dumb. Do better West Seattleites.

  • jissy October 3, 2018 (8:41 am)

    MJ: If the assailants are charged, restitution for medical bills could be part of the punishment if they are convicted.

  • nonni October 3, 2018 (9:21 am)

    A hardworking man who was just attempting to withdraw some of his hard earned money from an ATM in a neighborhood where he grew up now cannot work, due to an arm fracture he sustained thanks to three nasty kids.

  • Steve October 3, 2018 (10:13 am)

    This could have easily turned into a Bernhard Goetz situation. I’m glad nobody was hurt.

  • Lola October 3, 2018 (10:22 am)

    Yes more power to the guy who was being attacked. I do not blame him for carrying a gun to protect himself from these thugs. Lets hope they have learned a lesson.

    • WSB October 3, 2018 (10:42 am)

      I have received the full police report on the incident – as noted yesterday, it wasn’t available at the time. Names of everybody involved (except the officers) have been redacted by SPD. I am uploading and linking the PDF above because it’s too lengthy to transcribe at the moment and isn’t cutting and pasting cleanly. – TR

  • Michelle October 3, 2018 (12:31 pm)

    Super confused by the comment that the man should have just taken the beating. Um…what? This logic absolutely baffles me!

    I do understand people questioning why he didn’t just drive away. But in the heat of the moment, the mix of anger and fear, I suspect he probably was worried they were going to go after someone else. These teens were brazen enough to attack a man in the middle of the day…what else would they be brazen enough to do?

    As people said, there were a number of people walking in the area at the time and perhaps he chose to stick around in case they tried to do harm to others. It isn’t like he got his gun and started shooting indiscriminately. The reality is, he could have shot them but chose not to.

  • KT October 3, 2018 (2:05 pm)

    Now, what will SPD and prosecutors do?????

  • Concerned October 3, 2018 (2:44 pm)

    SPD already did what they needed. Now it’s up to our lame prosecutor

    • WSB October 3, 2018 (3:56 pm)

      Or the City Attorney’s Office. When I spoke with SPD yesterday, they said “at (that) point” it appeared to be a case of misdemeanor assault. We will do our best to watch the case but when juveniles are involved, that’s not as semi-simple as tracking adult cases.

  • Elle Nell October 3, 2018 (2:51 pm)

    who are you people..???? I hope the majority of the ignorance on here, does not live here in WS.

  • MJ October 3, 2018 (3:46 pm)

    Oh the good ol’ West Seattle High School students, MOST(not even all) who run amok around the town rather be in class. The ones who make it near impossible to enter the grocery store during lunch time. At what point does the school start being held accountable for the students during school hours? This man was assulted by students during school hours, they steal and cause pure chaos at Safeway and no one from that school does anything!!! When is enough enough? I’m not saying to lock them in the school like caged animals but can’t they have someone from administrative at the store, security or someone? Having the kids know that higher up is about and about might stop some of this nonsense!

  • Admiral Mom October 3, 2018 (3:52 pm)

    Where the suspects WSHS students? I am confused

    • Viewpoint mom October 3, 2018 (7:06 pm)

      I’m not certain if they are current West Seattle high students but I believe they might be according to the police report. If they are students, they should be expelled or have a very hard punishment for their actions considering it was during school hours. I feel actually sad for the parents of these kids and would feel extremely humiliated if my own child ever did something like this.

      • xavier October 4, 2018 (11:12 am)

        I also feel sorry for the parents too considering WSHS could give a rats patoot if a student was present in class or not.

  • Swede. October 3, 2018 (4:35 pm)

    Good to know that people’s mentality is to ‘stand around’ when this happens and that ‘Floyd’ thinks ‘he should have taken a beating’…
    That’s the spirit!
    Hopefully you didn’t drop the iPhone while filming it.
    No complaints when YOU are the next one to get assaulted and nobody helps.

  • Wait, what? October 3, 2018 (5:55 pm)

    Who still does business with Wells Fargo!?

  • Driving by October 3, 2018 (6:00 pm)

    I drove by when the cop had just arrived. The suspect (only saw the one with his face bleeding) appeared to be in high school or college age. The ATM man was large, understandably upset and screaming at the top of his lungs when he was speaking to the cop while seated on the bench. Everyone involved was white – cannot figure out the race discussions on this page. And there was a mother, young child and a crowd around the bleeding man. It was very shocking to see while driving by that this had occured just minutes before.

  • ipsofacto October 4, 2018 (1:09 pm)

    Hint to WSHS miscreants – don’t assault other citizens.

Sorry, comment time is over.