UPDATE: Police arrest suspects after ground and air search following West Seattle gunfire

| Crime | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

(Photo tweeted by @ReganConley)

5:37 PM: If you’re seeing a big police response near 35th/Avalon, here’s what it’s about: Police were responding to a report of gunfire near 35th/Morgan, and then caught up with a possibly related vehicle near 35th/Avalon. People ran from the car; police just radioed that they have two guns and the driver in custody. They’re still looking for three others, at least some of whom may have headed east. At least one suspect is barefoot, having left his shoes behind. One part of the scene is reported to be near 30th/Genesee.

5:45 PM: The Guardian One law-enforcement helicopter is joining the search. The only descriptions available are that the people they’re searching for are all men in their mid-20s, one white, two black.

5:57 PM: The search continues, with multiple K9 teams involved too.

6 PM: Potential suspect reported in custody at 30th/Dakota. That means two suspects are in custody, two still being sought.

6:16 PM: The 2 still being sought are described as “white, no shirt, no shoes” and black, dressed in dark clothing. Meantime, we are checking out the original scene – many casing markers in the alley north of Walgreens.

(WSB photo)

6:32 PM: Suspect vehicle is about to be towed from Avalon.

(WSB photo)

6:54 PM: One more suspect reported to be in custody.

(Photo sent by John F)

The first person detained, the driver, is female. Meantime, we just came up Avalon again; most of the police vehicles are gone.

7 PM: The original scene off 35th has cleared too.

7:51 PM: Commenters report one more arrest. We’re adding more photos. Additional followup info isn’t likely to be available before Monday, unless this incident turns up on SPD Blotter.

8:32 PM: And it just has. The post says one suspect is still at large:

Police arrested three people and are still searching for one more after shots were fired in West Seattle early Friday evening.

Police were dispatched to the 3500 block of SW Morgan Street after witnesses reported shots fired around 5:45 pm.

Officers flooded the area and spotted four people attempting to flee the area in a car. The suspects stopped their vehicle near SW Avalon and Genesee Street and continued to flee on foot.

Officers from the Southwest and South precincts pursued the suspects and with the help of a K9 unit and King County Guardian One helicopter captured three of the four.

Police continue to scour the area for the remaining suspect.

Officers have not received any reports of a victim at this time.

Gang Unit detectives will continue investigating and are asking anyone with information to please call the tip line at 206-233-5000.

Sarah April 10, 2020 (5:40 pm)

I have NEVER seen such a large response. The cops were TEARING down Avalon. They’re still coming!

Avalon Resident April 10, 2020 (5:48 pm)

Avoid Avalon between 35th and the bridge. It’s pandemonium at Avalon & Genessee.

Sarah April 10, 2020 (5:50 pm)

Yeah no joke.
- Can We Just Be Chill April 10, 2020 (7:24 pm)
  
  Tonight no shirt, no shoes=a big problem.
  - April johnson April 10, 2020 (7:50 pm)
    
    .funny

Lagartija Nick April 10, 2020 (5:49 pm)

I’m on 26th and Genesee. All of the sirens scared someone’s dog so bad he ran out in the street. If you’re missing a husky? type dog it ran south down the alley between 26th and the golf course.

Mike April 10, 2020 (5:51 pm)

Watched it happen. A silver Pontiac or dodge charger peeled fast out of the Walgreens parking lot. Happy to speak with police.

HC April 10, 2020 (7:41 pm)

Hi. You should call the nonemergency number and let them know you are a witness.
- WSB April 10, 2020 (8:39 pm)
  
  Moot point now but if you see something while an incident is working, CALL 911, not the non-emergency line. They were dispatching officers based on calls they got, and giving directions to the helicopter too (“person at xxxx sees someone crouching in the bushes,” etc.) and that likely helped lead to at least one of the arrests.

Thomas M April 10, 2020 (5:52 pm)

Huge response. Guardian One just circled over head. Still circling, 5:51 pm

Sarah April 10, 2020 (5:54 pm)

Suspect #3 was shot in the back.

WSB April 10, 2020 (6:30 pm)

Reportedly someone was shot but no confirmation until and unless they find someone..
- Sarah April 10, 2020 (6:51 pm)
  
  I heard a policeman state this on the scanner and the dispatcher repeated it back. That was a while ago though, and I haven’t really heard anything about it since.

BETSY HOFFMEISTER April 10, 2020 (5:55 pm)

What kind of car?

J April 10, 2020 (6:09 pm)

2000-ish era Ford Taurus sedan (4 door). Dark red

ARPigeonPoint April 10, 2020 (5:57 pm)

I wonder if there’s a “breaking social distancing” enhancement.

Mj April 10, 2020 (5:58 pm)

As a side note: Avalon is a bike route that getting up the hill is the best and for some only option up, the other routes have significantly greater grades making them not suitable.

Youngstown Resident April 10, 2020 (6:01 pm)

There are cops all over 26th and SW Dakota and a helicopter circling.

Kevin Siegrist April 10, 2020 (6:03 pm)

We live right across and heard it. One guy screaming he got shot. Thugs came running from Walgreens. Stuart Manor needs to be torn down already along with that drug infested corner gas station. Police and city need to do more!

Clmuel April 10, 2020 (6:32 pm)

Could not agree more!
Andrew April 10, 2020 (6:45 pm)

That’s our fault for continuing to keep the same people in our local government.
- Neek April 11, 2020 (3:41 am)
  
  TBH.. EVERYONE HAS A MIND OF THERE OWN AND ALOT OF THESE FOLKS EITHER ARE GOING TO DO WHAT THEY’RE TOLD OR THEY’RE PLAIN HARD HEADED &DON’T THINK OF WHAT CAN HAPPEN TO THERESELVES OR ANYONE ELSE, ALL THEY’RE THINKIN OF IS LOOKING COOL AN HAVING A NAME THAT RINGS A BEL IN THE STREETS, DONT EVER WANNA LISTEN & WANTS TO FIND OUT ON THERE OWN, ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY ARE TRYING TO PROVE SOMEONE WRONG WHO’S TELLING THEML ITS IMPOSSIBLE OR NOT A GOOD IDEA, ITS LIKE AN ADRENALINE RUSH TO SOME PEOPLE…. NOT KNOWING OR THINKING THE WORSE PART OF THE OUTCOME & THE CONSEQUENCES TIL AFTER THE FACT. I DONT THINK ITS THE GOVERNORS FAULT THAT THEY CANT BE ON THAT BLOCK 247 TO SEE WHATS GOING ON, ON THAT CORNER, THESE PEOPLE ARE STREET SMART THEY WORK TOGETHER LIKE THE COMMUNITY DOES EVERYONE HAS THERE OWN CROWD THEY FEEL LIKE ITS THERE FIT, MAJORITY OF THE TIME ITS TEENAGERS THAT ARE THE ONES OUT HERE ACTING A FOOL, AND ALOT OF THE TIMES ITS BECAUSE OF HOW THEY WHERE BROUGHT UP AN SADLY IT HAS A LOT TO DO WITH EITHER THERE PARENTS THAT ARE TO BUSY CAUSE THEY ARE A SINGLE PARENT TRYING TO KEEP A ROOF OVER THERE HEADS, OR THEY ARE JUST TRYING TO GET HIGH NOT CARING WHAT THERE CHILD IS OUT HERE DOING OR SADLY JUST LEAVING THEM AT HOME SOMETIMES BEING WATCHED BY SOMEONE WHOS TEACHING THEM THIS CRAP LAUGHING ABOUT IT AND SOMETIMES DOIN IT INFRONT OF THEM TELLIN THEM ITS OK…ITS REALLY UP TO THE COMMUNITY TO WORK TOGETHER AND MAKE THAT CALL SO THEY WOULD NO THAT #×ITS GETTING REAL OUT HERE AN ITS TIME FOR 5 0 TO EITHER POST AND WATCH THE BLOCK UNTIL THEY REALIZE ITS TO HOT TO HANGOUT THERE ANYMORE AND THAT GOES FOR EVERY OTHER CRIMINAL ACTIVITY WE OR OUR KIDS ARE SEEING OR BEING CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF, IF WE JUST KEEP SITTING BACK AN JUST COMPLAIN ABOUT HOW THE NEXT PERSON ISNT DOING THERE JOB THAN WE SHOULDN’T EVEN SPEAK ABOUT HOW ALL THIS WENT ABOUT… BECAUSE IF U THINK ABOUT IT WE COULD OF PREVENTED ALL THIS FROM HAPPENING JUST BY WORKING TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY, U NEVER KNOW … EVEN IF U HAVE RESOURCES THAT THEY MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN, REMEMBER COMMUNICATION IS THE KEY, IF U HAVE A MOUTH PEICE THAN USE IT TO MAKE POSITION MOVES NOT BUILD NEGATIVE ENERGY OVER BAD ENERGY…..IJS...
  - Susan April 11, 2020 (10:29 am)
    
    @NEEK Southwest Youth and Family Services ably addresses the very issues you describe. SWYFS.org
Cheri April 10, 2020 (6:51 pm)

I couldn’t agree more! I’m across from it and that whole corner is nothing but trouble!!
Eduardo April 10, 2020 (7:31 pm)

Sorry gentrifiers for completely trying to eradicate POC in the city. Thugs – code for – black. WSB comments racist
- Chuck April 10, 2020 (7:51 pm)
  
  Or… “thugs” is code for what it actually is: dangerous behavior by crappy people of ANY race that could result in killing innocent bystanders like you and me. I don’t know, maybe stop putting words in people’s mouth and start putting blame where it belongs. On the thugs.
  - Allison April 10, 2020 (8:27 pm)
    
    Sorry Chuck, you’re wrong. Thug is a term white racists use to describe people of color. Be mindful and respectful of the community you’ve chosen to live in.
    - WR April 10, 2020 (9:17 pm)
      
      No, thugs is not racist. That’s why it was allowed to be posted. Period. Stop making things up please. These people shooting at each were thugs. By definition.
    - starla April 10, 2020 (9:33 pm)
      
      here to also report that using the term thug is racisthttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5004736/
    - Vic April 10, 2020 (9:18 pm)
      
      Allison is right. There’s plenty of information online to read about the racially coded meaning behind the word “thug”, specifically.
    - JC April 14, 2020 (5:17 pm)
      
      Do you believe everything you read online or what the media wants you to believe? Read the historic definition how that word came about. Google the definition as well…a violent person, a criminal, a robber, a murderer. It can be any race. Everyone neess to quit making everything out to be racist.
    - RCola April 10, 2020 (9:37 pm)
      
      Those thugs certainly weren’t respectful and mindful to the community…
    - CandrewB April 11, 2020 (8:53 am)
      
      Those with delicate sensibilities have tied it to people of color. Historically right-leaning folk have attributed the word thug to low-level government enforcement agents or union strikers (as well as goon).
    - Alki Bee April 11, 2020 (10:32 am)
      
      Allison, I am 79 years old; we used the word “thug” when I was a child, in all-white neighborhoods. Thugs were abusive, aggressive, bullies who stole, robbed and hurt people. Please stop thinking that everything is about race. You’re just wrong.
    - Barb April 11, 2020 (2:26 pm)
      
      Just because someone wrote about it doesn’t make it so. Everyone from Al Capone to the KGB and since has employed white thugs. A thug is a thug is a thug: a brutish individual of size and brawn and evil intent superior to that of the average “well behaved, non criminal” and peace loving citizen. Race need not come into it. It’s more about demographics.
  - WR April 10, 2020 (9:20 pm)
    
    You are thoroughly right Chuck.
    - Bob April 10, 2020 (10:00 pm)
      
      Good lord, thug is not racist word. If thug is racist then so is gangster to the Italian community, pfff. We live in a hyper sensitive world now where everyone is overly PC to a detriment.
- Seaweed April 10, 2020 (9:50 pm)
  
  So, those white boys thugs? I prefer the term POS… or am I being racist?
  - Barb April 11, 2020 (2:30 pm)
    
    Who knows, Seaweed? What does POS mean? For me, it’s the Port of Seattle. Use your words!
- Chris April 11, 2020 (6:28 am)
  
  The history of the word thug was mostly used for poor white criminals. Then it evolved because of the rap group “thug life” with 2Pac – and all of the subsequent memes. All of us in Seattle know how Richard Sherman was called a thug simply because he was opinionated and black. Technically the word only refers to a violent person. So anybody of any color who is violent is a thug. But it is often used to stereotype black people.
- uncle loco April 11, 2020 (8:22 am)
  
  You’re assuming that African Americans are the only ones capable of thuggery. That in itself is a form of racism.
- CD April 14, 2020 (4:33 pm)
  
  Dear fellow white people: we don’t get to decide what’s racist and what isn’t. It’s not up to us; if you think it is, ask yourself why you might think that.
HC April 10, 2020 (7:43 pm)

Totally agree! Put pressure on Lisa Herbold.
Alex smith April 10, 2020 (8:09 pm)

I couldn’t agree more I would love to file a lawsuit with that store and Walgreens for letting this behavior happen daily and with the city over Stewart manor they sell crack in broad daylight daily. It’s crazy!!!!
- Ashley April 12, 2020 (12:33 am)
  
  How is this Walgreens fault? what’s wrong with you people? Also- “Thug” is most definitely used disproportionately by whites towards blacks. I’m a white female and I cringe when I hear this word- the context is almost always racist and dehumanizing .
  - Barton April 12, 2020 (4:26 pm)
    
    I don’t thug was intended as racist here and I associate the word “thug” in this context only as a criminal engaging in violent behavior.

SE April 10, 2020 (6:04 pm)

Any updates?

WSB April 10, 2020 (6:10 pm)

All in the story.

Een April 10, 2020 (6:06 pm)

Male in handcuffs on 30th and Dakota

22blades April 10, 2020 (6:11 pm)

I came out of the Starbucks / Taco Time parking lot & saw a white male, dark hair, mid 30’s, about 5’10”, dressed in blue top & bottom running for his life, northbound on 35th blasting through lights & crossing all over the place. I want to say about 5pm or so.

J April 10, 2020 (6:16 pm)

Saw the whole thing unfold out of my window. Heard a voice yell, “Police, freeze!” people jump out of a car Ford Taurus and run north down Avalon briefly before cutting east between two houses in the photo. The officer didn’t have a partner so he got the driver out of the car and on the ground at gun point with an assault rifle and held her there until backup arrived to cuff her and search for the others.

Echo April 10, 2020 (6:16 pm)

He’s in a car now, but Guardian is still circling, although more to the green-belt at dragonfly park at this point.

Moon April 10, 2020 (6:24 pm)

There’s a suspicious black male washing his shoes near an outdoor washing station right outside of Taco Time on SW Avalon and 35th. Another black male just joined him and now they’re both headed to the 7 eleven. One of them is limping.

Avalon April 10, 2020 (7:07 pm)

Moon did you report to 911. There may be security cameras to use for image of male subject not found.

Katherine Weitz April 10, 2020 (6:24 pm)

1 suspect caught behind my condo at sw Avalon way and Yancy.

Wendell April 10, 2020 (6:37 pm)

Clown shoes and a wife beater shirt. Perfect.
diane April 10, 2020 (6:43 pm)

That makes sense considering the last WSB paragraph indicated there was something going on at 30th and Genesee, right where I live. Everything is so what wooded here it would be easy to hide for a long time.

WSB April 10, 2020 (6:26 pm)

Call 911 if you haven’t already!

wsgal April 10, 2020 (6:34 pm)

Helicopter still doing circles in the area.

AlexC April 10, 2020 (6:34 pm)

Still a couple cop cars on Avalon. Can see a tow truck working on the dark red car now.

Anon April 10, 2020 (6:35 pm)

The suspect J saw cut through the buildings has already been apprehend. It’s the same person they have cuffed in Katherine’s photo. We live near those buildings he cut through and saw him run down and alleyway and hop a fence before crossing 30th heading east. We called to report right away.

Junction Dude April 10, 2020 (6:45 pm)

Lock your doors and windows I suppose.

Avalon Way April 10, 2020 (6:45 pm)

Still a black male at large. K9 tracking is being started from the suspect car.

Anon April 10, 2020 (6:46 pm)

1st subject- driver I believe

30th Ave April 10, 2020 (6:50 pm)

caught another one on 30th and Genessee

Sarah April 10, 2020 (6:55 pm)

Looks like the no shirt no shoes guy!

Avalon John April 10, 2020 (6:53 pm)

Tracy – THANK YOU!! As a resident on Avalon Way, the WSB is my first go-to whenever I hear sirens and it is just amazing how fast you know what’s going on. Greatly appreciated!

AP April 10, 2020 (6:54 pm)

Suspect caught. He had been hiding in a bush.

C April 10, 2020 (6:58 pm)

Hey her shoes are red too!

E April 10, 2020 (7:16 pm)

lol
JWinWS April 10, 2020 (7:53 pm)

Gang colors?

Jackie April 10, 2020 (7:02 pm)

Police are still circling the block on foot and in vehicles.

Resident at 30Th April 10, 2020 (7:07 pm)

Minutes after this picture was taken the shirtless white male was found in the bushes.

EV April 10, 2020 (7:14 pm)

Just heard from detective that all suspects are in custody.

NW April 10, 2020 (7:37 pm)

Wish these folks come to turn their lives around eventually and make progress for the better.

HC April 10, 2020 (7:46 pm)

Any word on the victim?

Morgan April 10, 2020 (7:56 pm)

Good work police.

WR April 10, 2020 (9:22 pm)

Second that. Fantastic work SPD!

Harper April 10, 2020 (8:27 pm)

Prepare for more of this as “all levels” of Seattle feel the crunch of the ever-layered economy and not understanding/addressing the core issues of why this happens.

flimflam April 10, 2020 (8:40 pm)

oh stop…
Alki April 10, 2020 (9:07 pm)

Come on now. The problem isn’t the economy, it is people that are not interested in being part of a society where they contribute. I’m not rich but you don’t see me out shooting people. How about putting some personal responsibility on those that commit these types of crimes. You are worse than the perpetrators. You give them excuses to take lives and act like they are being held back from realizing their potential.
- KB April 10, 2020 (10:06 pm)
  
  There is no excuse for exhibiting poor character. We all make a choice as to whether we will be a law abiding citizen or not regardless of race or color or physiological makeup. No excuses. There are resources to help those in need.
- Ed April 10, 2020 (10:09 pm)
  
  Hey Alki, I’m not one to typically engage in matters of personal opinions. However, in the happenstance of this moment, I am reading your comment and would like you to read your own words. One sentence. You wrote it-“You are worse than the perpetrators.”So, someone who engages in harmless free speech in an online, open forum, is now “worse than the perpetrators”? Wow. So here’s where I laugh out loud… Again, more of your own words…”I’m not rich but you don’t see me out shooting people.”Well of course we can’t SEE you so we don’t know who your are or if you are rich or do shoot people; but would you shoot people if you were rich? You sure set yourself up for that one. Would you shoot people for any reason you deemed okay within your own belief system? I mean you did imply that free speech was > shooting people. (That’s a greater than sign by the way Alki-) What if the majority of people decided you were a judgmental piece of crap and held you in place to be stoned and demonized simply by exercising your free speech?My idea – Please go unplug your internet and cast your smartphone into the sea Alki. Then go read a book on how you can be a mentor and then go find other resources that show you where your new found altruism can be put to work. The only belief I’ll share in this post is this-Mean People Suck. EV-
  - Elle Nell April 11, 2020 (2:18 pm)
    
    ED- I like everything you wrote… and the fact that what you wrote will prompt someone to think and actually use their brain instead of just their mouth. And truth be told, MEAN people DO suck!! Seattle- WE do no harm and take no sh$& ⚡️( same time )
  - WW Resident April 12, 2020 (3:31 am)
    
    Thank you Ed for demonstrating exactly what Alki was saying. Your lie expectations of certain people are telling

cole April 10, 2020 (9:46 pm)

wealth = social inequality = thug

Brandon C Swanson April 11, 2020 (4:23 pm)

Dude, I’m pretty on board with your train of thought, however, thug means thug. I don’t give a flying F about who that specifically may be…a THUG is a thug. Be it a Chicago hit man from the 20’s, be it Tupac with ThugLife tattooed across his abs. You choose, or inherit the life, you live it. I don’t hear many of the so-called “thugs” complaining about the tag. There are many more important issues you should pursue. Happy Easter!!

Alki resident April 10, 2020 (10:00 pm)

Oddly enough (sarcasm), four gentle souls were apprehended in Burien just an hour later for pretty much the same thing. I’m betting non of them recently purchased a gun at a gun store.

Catch&Release April 10, 2020 (10:20 pm)

This would be a situation where a full time overhead surveillance drone could reduce the time and manpower needed to catch the suspect at large. Baltimore police are currently testing out the new tech. If we don’t have the will or money to lock them up why bother catching them in the first place.

TJ April 10, 2020 (10:29 pm)

Thug perfectly describes these criminals, which included a white man. Some people always seem to be looking to find offense in anything, including the terms used to describe criminals involved in a shooting or blaming society on where they are. Enablers

Theresa April 11, 2020 (12:24 am)

We just heard what sounded like a gun shot in the admiral district. I let my dogs out and they ran back in.

WSB April 11, 2020 (12:25 am)

Call 911 if you haven’t already. I haven’t heard any dispatches and they always dispatch to check out possible shots.

YES2WS April 11, 2020 (8:16 am)

Theresa, same. I’m in Alaska Junction and heard what sounded like a loud gunshot just north of here. I’m wondering now if it was the start of what caused the massive fire in Admiral.

Rick April 11, 2020 (10:06 am)

Didn’t Chief Best recently tell us to keep the 911 lines open so if someone calls you by what you perceive to be racist and hurt your precious feelings you should use it? Priorities. WSB, you in a heap ‘o trouble now.

BSwans April 11, 2020 (4:17 pm)

Quick question: what’s up with these dipchits losing their shoes? What cool new shoeless trend am I missing?

ScubaFrog April 11, 2020 (9:53 pm)

So while the real psychopathic, dullard and inept 1% are mulling over sending America’s peasants -us- back to work in a pandemic (if you’re not a billionaire, welcome to the peasantry), we argue about the meaning of “thug”. Crabs in a bucket. I counted 17 spent rounds. If ‘thugs’ isn’t palatable, the term ’Monster’ fits the shooter/s. We have no idea who the shooter/s are. An arrest proves nothing.

Thomas M April 12, 2020 (9:31 am)

KUDOS to SPD. Now let the DA throw the book at them. Once the information is filed, the DA will have a nifty filing of facts much more useful than any speculation we may engage in here. BTW 17 rounds and one hit? The monsters’ skills are impressive.

WSB April 12, 2020 (12:20 pm)

Perhaps no one hit, as police say no injured person ever surfaced.

Barb April 12, 2020 (10:17 pm)

Does anyone know what started to gun fire? Were they aiming at someone or trying to intimidate people. Seems like a lot of spent bullet shell for no confirmed injuries. Or did I miss those details on here? Any property damaged by gunfire?