WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: More gunfire on the road

For the second time in less than a week, police are investigating a reported case of gunfire on the road. This happened after 7 pm last night. The victim said she was driving northbound on West Marginal Way – somewhere between the 4700 and 6800 blocks – when another driver began swerving and tailgating her. That driver then turned off its headlights, sped up to get closer to the victim’s vehicle, and someone in the car fired what the victim said were eight to nine shots. She drove home and called police. Officers counted “four fresh bullet holes” in her car and noted its rear tire had gone flat. The report says she “could not provide any details of the suspect vehicle, suspect(s), or motive.” If you saw anything, the case number is 22-047828.

Delridge neighbor February 25, 2022 (3:17 pm)

I hope she’s ok, and we urge the city council to install street cameras on all the major arterials to track criminals and get them off the streets.

Kim Kressin February 25, 2022 (9:26 pm)

I was the one involved in this shooting. I too wish there were more cameras. This stretch of W Marginal way is pretty dark, and multiple dark parks and lots people can wait in. I was terrified that my flat tire wouldn’t hold up and I was being forced off the road. I kept driving knowing my only way out was to get back off marginal road where there was better lighting and more people. There were people driving on the road, can’t believe there are not any more witnesses. The car followed me firing for at least 2-3 miles
- Delridge neighbor February 26, 2022 (11:40 am)
  
  I’m sorry that happened to you Kim.

John February 25, 2022 (3:47 pm)

There was an apparent drive-by shooting around 6:30am near Barton/18th/Delridge. Heard 5 gunshots rapid fire. Didn’t hear any tire screeching or any other commotion. Police were searching around the area within 5 minutes. According to the Tweets by Beat there were no injuries reported (so far). Fun times :-/.

WSB February 25, 2022 (4:40 pm)

9000 block of 18th SW per TBB, I’m checking to see if SPD can confirm whether evidence was found.
m February 25, 2022 (10:06 pm)

@ John – interesting. I heard 4-5 shots at 5:20am this morning in the same location around Barton & 18th. Called it in to 911 at that time.
- WSB February 25, 2022 (10:26 pm)
  
  SPD has since told me that no evidence of gunfire was found. Of course that doesn’t mean it didn’t happen, but for it to be counted as a gunfire incident, they need to find casings, damage, or injuries. – TR
- John February 26, 2022 (9:16 am)
  
  m, you’re right it was at that time…my memory was still in a haze after that unexpected wakeup call.
  - ray February 26, 2022 (4:57 pm)
    
    i’m close, heard that too

Audifans February 25, 2022 (4:39 pm)

The Wild West (Seattle)

Peter S. February 25, 2022 (5:53 pm)

“Vibrancy and diversity”, according to the modern parlance.
- Christopher Rogers February 26, 2022 (3:27 pm)
  
  In modern parlance, your comment is a racist dog whistle.(No sarcasm)

Cranky February 25, 2022 (4:43 pm)

No description. Hmmm. Guess it’s time for the dash cam (front and rear) purchase I been meaning to make.

Mike February 25, 2022 (5:15 pm)

Hope next time they roll up on a marine who’s packing This is going way to far and needs to be dealt with period!!

Rhonda February 25, 2022 (7:15 pm)

Almost 700,000 Washingtonians have concealed pistol licenses so this attempted murderer is facing bad odds if he keeps this up.

Mike February 25, 2022 (5:16 pm)

This is attempted murder not gunfire!!!

CarDriver February 25, 2022 (6:42 pm)

For those willing/wanting to shoot back. Better hope you hit the “bad guy”. Have visions of a WSB article on a pistol packer “defending themselves” and missing the “bad” guys and hitting an innocent victim. What would you say then???

Morgan February 25, 2022 (8:16 pm)

Thank you for the sane comment.We need stronger enforcement (prosecutions) of gun crime, and the answer to surging crime isn’t everyone packing heat.
Canton February 25, 2022 (8:48 pm)

Your concern is right on, depending on the situation. In the moment, seconds matter. Most people that carry are aware there’s a destination beyond the target. Most hope that situation never arises.
- 22blades February 26, 2022 (5:19 am)
  
  “Most people that carry are aware…” In the heat of the moment, I disagree unless you’ve had real training. Even with proper law enforcement or military training it’s difficult. Ego & adrenaline are dangerous.
StopCuttingDownTrees February 25, 2022 (11:24 pm)

In 1993 I survived a carjacking attempt in West Seattle on 35th SW at 1am. The four attackers were impersonating undercover police officers in a large sedan with wig-wag headlights, a loudspeaker, and a spotlight. They pulled me over when I was driving a brand-new car and ordered me out over the loudspeaker. When I realized they weren’t police I drew my .45 pistol and they quickly fled. I called SPD from the QFC at Westwood Village. SPD arrested them on California Avenue an hour later attempting to steal an escape vehicle. They picked me up at home (a block away on 34th) and took me to the arrest site to identify them. They all had violent criminal records. I never had to fire a shot. Most armed citizens who defend themselves from felony attacks don’t fire any shots, either.
- StopCarrying February 27, 2022 (1:33 pm)
  
  Outrageous falsehood? “ Most armed citizens who defend themselves from felony attacks don’t fire any shots, either.”Please provide statistics and your source. Factually, there were more than 38,000 firearm deaths in US in 2019 (US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). More than half of those were successful suicides.

Balderdash February 25, 2022 (8:37 pm)

I am all in favor of returning fire if you have “8 or 9 shots” aimed at you. And if you have concealed carry, it’s incumbent on you to get training and regular practice. Someone shooting at you is attempted murder and should be treated as such. Defend yourself.

Kim Kressin February 25, 2022 (9:18 pm)

I’m the person they followed and fired at. I don’t own a gun. Driving home after work, driver came out of no where and I have no idea what provoked this. I heard the gunshot before noticing the driver following me. Followed me at least 2-3 miles firing intermittent shots at my truck. They hit my tire, and 2 bullets went through my driver’s side back seat and lodged into the floor. Two other bullet holes in the tailgate. They eventually passed me and I thought gave up, but must have doubled back. Because as I approached under the west seattle bridge, I heard another shot and in my rear view saw a person making a u-turn and head back down admiral.

flimflam February 26, 2022 (7:05 am)

wow – that is frightening. minor miracle you weren’t injured…
WSDUDEMAN February 26, 2022 (9:09 pm)

Glad you are ok. This story is absolutely nuts. We as a society need to throw the proverbial book at gun offenses. We should have zero tolerance for illegal possession and/or reckless use of firearms like this incident. Unreal. Seattle is turning into a garbage city.

Meryl February 25, 2022 (10:39 pm)

This sounds like attempted murder to me, not “gunfire on the road.” So glad you are ok (as well as can be expected after being shot at 8-9 times). Speechless.

Marcus February 26, 2022 (4:04 am)

Wow! It now has gone this far. No fun just shooting a gun in the air anymore. These guys have just upped their jolly’s. You know these guy do other things, you know that they are involved is other crimes. This is not first time offenders these guys are hardened criminals and need to be caught, tried and convicted if the evidence is sound. Is it wrong to say we need more police? Have we finally got to the point where we can say out loud and in company that we need police patrols active and ready for the task of getting these guys out of our society? I really hope so!

W s February 26, 2022 (7:38 am)

How do I tell who is the good guy with a gun and who is the bad guy? Up until they shot at a car I’m pretty sure they were a good guy with a gun? Or does it have to do with how much money the car is worth? The color of the individuals? Their address? How do I tell my 4 year old how to figure out who the good guy with the gun is? Simple they are both one and the same until they have a bad day.

Rhonda February 26, 2022 (5:30 pm)

NONSENSE. A bad guy is a bad guy and a good guy is a good guy, gun or not. There are over 3 million law-abiding gun owners in this State and equating them all with violent criminals is bizarre and macabre.
- StopCarrying February 27, 2022 (1:38 pm)
  
  Yes Rhonda, but what about those 40,000 firearm suicides per year and growing with the surge of firearms? What about all of those firearm ‘accidents?’We are certain statistically that owning a firearm does increase your odds of being shot.

Sasquatch February 26, 2022 (8:44 am)

Kim – that is terrifying incident. I’m glad you weren’t harmed physically but you must be suffering with anxiety and post trauma issues. How could you feel safe driving that route again? If you think the suspects fired at you under the West Seattle Bridge and turned around and went through that intersection again… They could look at the cameras for a car at the same time you were shot at going one direction and then a minute later going the other direction. Just a thought.

WSB February 26, 2022 (6:13 pm)

The SDOT cameras don’t record.
Kim February 27, 2022 (11:28 am)

I thought about any locations of cameras, and there are none along this route. The more I think about it, I believe this may have been thought out on the attackers part. The location is nearly perfect for this crime. 3 mile stretch of dark road where there is no real escape route. Nearest police precinct would have been way over on Delridge and requires making a U Turn and doubling back to Highland Park Way. (Not an option). There are no safe turnouts along that 3 mile stretch, dark parks at night. The lighting is not good. My only real option was to make it to the admiral exit where it was well lit, and this is exactly where they turned around. The attackers also drove nearly the whole time in my blind spot, firing intermittently at me. Did not seem to be out of control or road rage. They gunfire started I think about 1/3 mile north of the Highland Park Way intersection. Also, better for the attackers as there were less possible witnesses once you get past the intersection.

Lisa February 26, 2022 (9:17 am)

Gun enforcement and police are fine, but not having a gun because you can call the police is like not having a fire extinguisher because you can call the fire dept. Never fired a shot, but having a firearm on me has twice prevented someone from physically assaulting me.

StopCarrying February 27, 2022 (1:44 pm)

Not carrying a firearm has allowed me to never be physically assaulted, because I am more aware of my surroundings and exercise due diligence. Perhaps the simple act of being armed increases the likelihood of violent confrontations.
- Axe February 27, 2022 (6:53 pm)
  
  I think a couple of you guys are getting off topic here. We have an attempt made on a woman’s life while she was driving home. The guns used may have been illegally acquired (maybe printed, who knows). The bigger question is, was this a random attack, road rage, or wrong target? Either way, I am glad the victim is ok and I hope the perps are found, prosecuted and senetenced.

wsperson February 26, 2022 (12:38 pm)

Why?

Peter S. February 27, 2022 (1:25 pm)

@Christopher Rogers: You obviously don’t know me or you’d know how wrong you are. There’s nothing in this post that gives any clue to the shooters (or victims) race. Nor, does it matter. Perhaps you made some assumptions, but I didn’t. My use of that terminology was a reference to several posters, who during during the summer of 2020, were condoning or advocating acceptance of the nightly lawless free for all that was Alki for a while, under the guise of kids just having fun. It’s an interesting phenomenon when someone who plays the racist accusation is often the first to bring race into the discussion. As if that is the only possible explanation for opposition to dangerous criminal behavior. FWIW, my wife is AA (I’m not). I realize that doesn’t prove I’m not a racist, but it certainly reduces the odds.

Lura Ercolano February 27, 2022 (2:09 pm)

Hi Peter. I agree 100% with the other poster that that is what your post sounded like. I was glad someone said it. Of course sniping at “diversity” makes you sound like someone who is – get this – opposed to diversity? inclined to blame diversity for crime? Think about your words. They were offensive and even scary.

mappy March 11, 2022 (7:49 am)

years ago, camera’s were installed in Oakland, CA to deter crime. Perhaps this is a good time to investigate the data to determine if cameras make sense.

Sorry, comment time is over.