WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: 2 gunfire reports; Fairmount-area attack; another axe arrest

| Crime | West Seattle news

Three reports in West Seattle Crime Watch:

TWO GUNFIRE REPORTS: According to emergency-radio communication, police are investigating both of these reports right now – someone reporting that a person on a motorcycle shot into their house in the 9200 block of 14th SW, and someone else reporting their house was fired at in the 7000 block of 16th SW. No injuries reported so far. THURSDAY MORNING UPDATE: No additional info on the 16th SW report but the preliminary police summary on 14th notes: “No one was hit, but bullets did penetrate through the residence – into the living room where minor children were watching TV.”

FAIRMOUNT-AREA ATTACK: This happened Tuesday afternoon and we’ve been pursuing more information but didn’t get it until finding online court documents tonight. A 38-year-old North Shorewood man is in jail after two incidents a short time apart. Police first got a call that a man jumped into a car with two women – mother and daughter – inside; the daughter fought back and he bolted. While they were on their way to that call, they got a report of a man trying car-door handles a few blocks away. Officers who detoured to that call detained what turned out to be the attack suspect. The victims told police they were getting into their car in the 5900 block of Fauntleroy Way SW when the man came up to their car, knocked on the window, then jumped in through the unlocked back door. He grabbed the older woman by the shoulder; the younger woman took out her pocket knife and started hitting him with the handle. She kept hitting him and finally he got out of the car – leaving his phone behind. Shortly thereafter, he was arrested at the other scene near Fauntleroy/Edmunds, and identified by one of the victims, neither of whom needed medical treatment. The suspect is being held in lieu of $15,000 bail, including $10,000 for a prior drunk-driving charge.

ANOTHER AXE ARREST: Police got a call about a burglary in progress in the 3400 block of Harbor Avenue SW around 3:45 pm today. According to the preliminary report, they were told that a man “was using a hammer and axe to break into vehicles and units.” When police got there, they reported finding the man “hanging out the front windshield of a vehicle he had bashed in.” They arrested him and booked him into jail.

Seattle voter July 21, 2021 (10:27 pm)

Reap what we created

Pessoa July 22, 2021 (12:16 pm)

There is zero demonstrated causation between these crimes and police staffing, if that is your cryptic message.
- possum July 22, 2021 (2:38 pm)
  
  There is. In other cities with normal levels of police patrols, and functioning prosecution, people don’t walk around carjacking or smashing windows at 3pm
  - Jamie July 31, 2021 (10:25 pm)
    
    100%
FlytRsk July 22, 2021 (9:44 pm)

Yea verily. If I had to guess, I’d say his cryptic message was less about police patrol numbers, and more about the type of society we have collectively created. Because we’re all too concerned with being right and heard to worry about being humble and effective. We all own a piece. But that’s just my take. 🤷‍♀️

Mj July 21, 2021 (10:36 pm)

It would be nice to see the axe perp be made to compensate the victims of his vandalism.

Elmer Fudd July 22, 2021 (6:08 am)

That person probably doesn’t have any money to pay for a place to live let alone pay restitution.
- wascally wabbit July 22, 2021 (8:53 am)
  
  Well said Mr. Fudd.
- Question Authority July 22, 2021 (12:43 pm)
  
  He’s got a place to live now, jail. And the restitution is being removed from society for all of our collective benefit.
  - FlytRsk July 22, 2021 (9:48 pm)
    
    Yes, the care of those born into circumstances less fortuitous than the ones that allowed us the genetics and upbringings to have at least a moderate amount of success is such a burden.
bill July 22, 2021 (8:48 am)

Courts order restitution all the time. There is no mechanism to make it happen, apart perhaps from suing the perp but good luck getting money from the typical broke ex-con.

1994 July 21, 2021 (11:01 pm)

The axe wielding people need to be put somewhere to keep them, and the rest of us, safe.

Ron M July 21, 2021 (11:24 pm)

If only there existed some place to keep violent offenders.
- Mitch July 22, 2021 (6:54 am)
  
  Yes, like a city that uses it’s jail cells and doesn’t keep letting repeat offenders out.
This July 22, 2021 (6:27 am)

The axe wielding people… But the gun shooting people, totally cool.

OneTimeCharley July 21, 2021 (11:22 pm)

All three of these incidents involve extremely dangerous perpetrators. Let’s all help with the clean up.

Smittytheclown July 22, 2021 (6:27 am)

People checking door handles for unlocked cars to jump into and you don’t want me carrying a pistol? Good luck with that. The world had gone to hell in the last 18 months.

sam-c July 22, 2021 (6:47 am)

Are there photos or names of the two suspects in the attempted car-jacking and axe attack?

WSB July 22, 2021 (8:49 am)

No.

Rick July 22, 2021 (7:05 am)

Ban on axes?

Seriously? July 22, 2021 (9:58 am)

That’s hilarious. Good one Rick. More axe control. Close the axe loopholes. More axe regulations.
The King July 22, 2021 (11:27 am)

A ban wouldn’t generate any money. First you need a permit, make the hardware stores liable, waiting periods after purchasing an axe and then threaten to take axes away permanently because they scare people who have never used an axe. Axe taxes and red tape at every step. Sharp sticks and rocks are next.
LibertariansAreJustSelfish July 22, 2021 (3:33 pm)

If only axes included projectiles that come out, fly through the air for up to a quarter mile, and which are also capable of punching through-and-through holes in human flesh would your analogy be correct. Gun sales should be regulated, and those regulations should not contain exceptions for private gun sales. Axes should be regulated too if they were involved in 10,000+ deaths per year in the U.S. alone.
- StopCuttingDownTrees July 22, 2021 (10:04 pm)
  
  Uh, gun sales are EXTREMELY regulated. Are you just tuning into the program? Welcome.
  - LibertariansAreJustSelfish July 22, 2021 (10:27 pm)
    
    Gun show sales require background checks now, huh? Selling out of a car trunk is forbidden in all 50 now, huh? Get real.
FlytRsk July 22, 2021 (9:50 pm)

How about legitimate mental health resources and a narrower economic gap? Or, you know, axe reform.. it’s time we edged out those wood burning stove weirdos, anyway..

Karen July 22, 2021 (7:13 am)

Out of control!!!!!

Chaz July 22, 2021 (7:30 am)

For the record, I called 911 regarding the thief and mistakenly thought he was breaking into the unit with a hatchet but it turned out to be a hammer. He was trying to break into a unit one door away from mine so I ducked back inside very fast after seeing what was going on. He then went around the corner and started working on the car, all in broad daylight, and was apparently oblivious to being watched by me and several other neighbors before being apprehended. Fortunately our units are well protected against theft so no real risk of him successfully breaking inside, but the damage he did to the car was fairly astonishing.

1994 July 22, 2021 (10:13 pm)

Thank you Chaz for keeping your cool, being able to call 911, taking and sharing these photos. I probably would have been shaking too much to take a clear photo. As you wrote, astonishing what damage was done. Sure glad the person was caught and we can only hope they remain locked up for everyone’s safety!

waikikigirl July 22, 2021 (7:38 am)

I am so PROUD of all of those women that fought back! Glad too they were not hurt and keep strong you ladies!!!

UselessPoliticians July 22, 2021 (7:51 am)

Please get the word out to vote for Ann Davison as city Attorney, she wants to prioritize the victim not the criminal. Pete Holmes is a complete failure and Nicole Thomas Kennedy is even more nuts

anonyme July 22, 2021 (9:29 am)

Thanks for the tip. Holmes has got to go.
Seriously? July 22, 2021 (9:59 am)

Agreed. Holmes has got to go ASAP.
Mike July 22, 2021 (11:01 am)

I totally agree and will be voting for her. The “Holmes way” has done serious damage. Not holding my breath about any positive change happening though. For too many people, these are theoretical or philosophical problems (unless it actually happens to them).
Steve July 22, 2021 (11:25 am)

Agree–Ann Davison is the first Republican I’ve ever voted for… This is how bad crime has gotten!
- UselessPoliticians July 22, 2021 (12:58 pm)
  
  Thanks for helping spread the word, but it’s supposed to be a non partisan position, she may be a more moderate Democrat…Either way we need a change as more of the same will continue our path of significantly higher crime rates in Seattle.

Lola July 22, 2021 (7:53 am)

Why do these people keep coming into West Seattle? I am glad that the mom & daughter are OK. Good for the daughter for getting him out of the car. When are we going to bring back help for these mentally ill people? It is in-sane that we let them just roam the streets.

Thank you WSB July 22, 2021 (11:10 am)

@LOLA “These people” are everywhere in the City of Seattle and beyond. They don’t just come to West Seattle for a visit and a crime. You just have the benefit of knowing more about the crimes, the criminal and each occurrence thanks to the great reporting by the West Seattle Blog.
- Lola July 22, 2021 (12:52 pm)
  
  Thank you WSB, I know they are everywhere, but everyday we read about someone that does not even live over here North – Shorewood Man the article states doing something Over here in WS. Attacking people, going on a rampage. It even takes a bit of work to come into WS anymore, unless they do come across the low bridge when they are not supposed to. I know the WSB Reports about stuff way more than most city’s and am grateful for them and their news coverage. It just seems more and more when I read they are from way far North or way far South. I know they are everywhere but they seem to make their way over to WS quite a bit. Lets hope they don’t just let him out this time.
  - WSB July 22, 2021 (1:18 pm)
    
    North Shorewood is barely south of West Seattle. In this case, a few blocks east of east Arbor Heights.
    - Lola July 22, 2021 (3:21 pm)
      
      WSB, did they say where Axe Man was from? Did he have a bail amount or was he released? Thank you for all of your reporting.
    - WSB July 22, 2021 (3:22 pm)
      
      I don’t have a confirmed name in that case yet.

cjboffoli July 22, 2021 (8:37 am)

Great work Chaz. Excellent news images too!

james July 22, 2021 (10:12 am)

I hope mama bear is ok, and the freak is locked up for good.

Lola July 22, 2021 (10:34 am)

Chaz,It looks like he almost got thru the window? Or is there something else preventing him from crawling in? Thank you for the pictures, I guess it is up to the people of the community to help protect our stuff from being vandalized. Good job. I just hope he gets the help he needs.

Alki Wendy July 22, 2021 (11:26 am)

I agree with UselessPoliticians. Ann Davidson for City Attorney. Pete Holmes has to go. Nicole Thomas Kennedy is worse than Holmes. There is an article in the Times this morning. This election is important for Seattle. Please take time to educate yourself on the candidates.

sickofthis July 22, 2021 (1:48 pm)

I voted for Ann Davidson also. Who to vote for Mayor?? Echohawk? Sixkiller? Donaldson? Harrell? I am stumped. I just want the addict/mental health issues to be addressed so we can get our city back.
- Cozy July 22, 2021 (9:52 pm)
  
  Echohawk. She seems most experienced, passionate, motivated, and informed to help with issues around homelessness. She has already been working in this area and has good vision, let’s empower her to help work to solve these issues, that should be prioritized for people and our communities! SHE will prioritize the homelessness issue, and has said it’s most why she’s running.
- carl July 23, 2021 (4:07 am)
  
  If you are sick of open drug use and crime you have 2 choices for Mayor – Donaldson or Randall. Everyone else is just more of the same.
reed July 22, 2021 (1:50 pm)

And when Davidson gets smoked in the general election the pearl-clutching “Seattle is Dying” crowd will pack up and leave right? Thomas-Kennedy is the best choice as she wants to work on the root-cause of the criminal activity in an effort to reduce it overall, not just throw people in jail after the fact.
- UselessPolititions July 22, 2021 (5:08 pm)
  
  Yeah cuz letting criminals commit crimes can help reduce crime….great logic.
- Canton July 22, 2021 (7:45 pm)
  
  Thanks for your opinion. Ann Davidson it is!

Greggory Rice July 22, 2021 (3:11 pm)

Unless one believes that the Seattle Police Department has been chronically understaffed for decades, then the argument that the current levels of crime are a result of recent cutbacks, is fallacious. From what I’ve gleaned (experienced personally), the Seattle Police
Department has always been notoriously indifferent to property crime, even with adequate staffing. Why is it that individuals who are quick to scrutinize the spending of other city, county and state entities, Blindly accept what another institution – the Seattle Police Department – tells them with no investigation or critical analysis?

heartless July 22, 2021 (6:34 pm)

The inconvenient truth here is that crime is largely independent of policing. Police forces, by and large, do nothing to deter crime (which evokes parallels to the punishments for crime: for instance, studies show that that death penalty, 3 strikes, etc., do NOT reduce crime).

The seeds for crime are sown deep and have been planted well before enforcement and punishment can exert what little (if any) influence they might have.

This is terribly inconvenient, I agree, but facts are facts. If you want to reduce crime you must reduce the impetus for crime, and those roots go deep.

Once again, for the people in the back (cuz I know there’s a lot of you!): increasing police funding, increasing prosecution, increasing punishments: these are ineffective in reducing crime.
- Julian July 22, 2021 (10:19 pm)
  
  Do you think if the consequences for murdering someone went away, there would not be an increase in murder rates?
  - heartless July 23, 2021 (9:43 am)
    
    If the consequences went away? Consequences? Do you mean the moral and philosophical ramifications of taking a life? Or do you mean carceral punishment by a state?
    
    Or are you just asking what would happen to murder rates if murder wasn’t illegal? That one is easy: murder rates would plummet to historic lows, since murder is de facto the unlawful killing of another human.
    
    But what you’ve asked about is orthogonal to my original point; I hope you are able to see that. And my claims in bold, in my previous comment, stand.
    - Julian July 23, 2021 (12:19 pm)
      
      I’m specifically referring to consequences, not legality. Those consequences can be anything: incarceration, financial penalties, public shame, etc…To clarify, I am not disputing your assertion entirely and agree there are definitely diminishing returns on policing’s effects on certain subsets of the population (different subsets in different geographical and political locations….no I don’t mean this in any racist way but purely psychological outlooks on life btw). The point of my question is relevant to yours IMO and here is why (already touched on above). Certain subsets of the population may not care about consequences, but the vast majority do. At what point the investment in policing impacts these things is up for debate.Personally I agree that some people just do not care about consequences or maybe I should say the possibility of consequences. I do think that the lack of consequences in general in this area does spur more people to do whatever they want. A police presence does bring the idea of consequences to the forefront of the majority of people’s brains. It’s like speeding. People will speed until they see an officer parked or driving ahead of them.
    - Julian July 23, 2021 (12:23 pm)
      
      Also, just a suggestion and it’s one that i surely am not able to follow sometimes or at least in my first reaction to a topic I feel passionate about. I really wasn’t intending my original comment as anything combative but just a question to probe your point of view. If I came across that way I apologize. It’s hard to not knee jerk to a black and white stance but how do we persuade others or grow ourselves if we don’t have civil conversations where we allow our thoughts/ideas/whatever to be questioned?
    - heartless July 23, 2021 (12:41 pm)
      
      Quite correct. Police presence, particularly if they are on foot, is a wonderful deterrent to crime. You are spot on that people will speed until they see an officer. Getting caught, or the thought of getting caught, is one of the biggest things we can do–at this end–to reduce crime. It pales in comparison, of course, with things we can and should be doing at the other end, both in terms of how far a dollar goes and in terms of sheer efficacy.
      
      But more foot patrols? Yes, please. More people giving tickets for red light running, speeding, etc.? Sign me up.
    - StopCuttingDownTrees July 23, 2021 (2:18 pm)
      
      Thank you for reinforcing my position that more police patrolling (and writing tickets for speeding and running red lights, which are crimes) reduces crime. Yes, more cops (which requires increased funding) = less crime.
    - heartless July 23, 2021 (6:43 pm)
      
      You’re part of the way there, Trees, but you’re a bit short. One would hope, one might even assume, that more police funding results in more foot patrols. But does it? And does it to the extent desired?
      
      The point to consider of course is this: what would the police budget have to be to have a cop on every street corner? If your desire to reduce crime is solely focused on whether or not a possible criminal has seen a cop on foot in the last 10 minutes (or whether a someone speeding has seen a cop car in past 10 minutes), just how many beat cops do you think Seattle would need to hire? Does that seem feasible? It’s obviously not remotely feasible. More foot patrols would be good, but the effect on overall crime statistics? Miniscule.
      
      If you are sincerely pursuing a reduction in crime, the money is FAR better spent elsewhere–that’s not even debatable.

Dunno July 22, 2021 (6:16 pm)

Harrell! I’m a WSU Cougar through and through.(James Donaldson) Bruce knows the CD, Rainier Beach, High Point, Columbia City, Downtown. He’s the one that can bring us all together! I don’t agree with most of his politics, but knowing him…I believe!

Mel July 22, 2021 (7:12 pm)

You don’t agree with his politics but you’re going to vote for him anyway? I’m not happy with any of my choices but feel Sixkiller is the best option. I fear he didn’t get his name out there early enough.
- Dunno July 23, 2021 (5:17 am)
  
  Yes. I ‘ve lived here over 5 decades and have come to terms with the fact that you’ll have to move somewhere else to get someone like Sixkiller. You’ll learn. You’re outnumbered.
  - Mel July 23, 2021 (2:49 pm)
    
    Been here for 4 decades so I’m well aware. I’m constantly voting the lesser of evils (IMO). You just sounded excited about Harrell. I’d gladly vote for him over Gonzalez, Echohawk, Houston, and some of the other candidates. My fear is people like Sixkiller, Donaldson and Randall who I think would make changes, won’t get elected. I may be voting for Harrell because I do believe he’s better than the first 3 candidates I named. We shall see what happens.