WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Shooting investigation (update: suspect arrested)

| Crime | West Seattle news

THURSDAY MORNING: A 41-year-old man is in stable condition after being shot at 26th/Andover early this morning. Here’s what SPD just published about the incident:

Around 3:20 (am), officers were called to the 2600 block of SW Andover for a report of a shooting. The victim was reportedly shot in the leg from behind, and sought help from a person in an RV near the scene.

Officers found the victim and applied a tourniquet to his wound. Seattle Fire Department medics then transported the man to Harborview Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries.

If you have any information about this incident, please call the SPD Violent Crimes Tip Line at 206-233-5000.

ADDED THURSDAY AFTERNOON: One additional detail from SPD – the victim was described as being “on a bike” when shot. Whether moving or stationary, police did not say.

ADDED FRIDAY, 11:39 AM: A suspect is in jail in connection with the shooting. Police say they got surveillance video “from a nearby business” and “recognized the suspect and his female companion who was known to them.” At 1:18 pm Thursday, they were called to a residence in the Jefferson Square area “which happened to be the address for the same female companion.” They saw the suspect’s vehicle in the parking garage, went into the building, and arrested the suspect when he walked out of the apartment. Police add, “Two handguns were located and submitted as evidence.” The suspect should have a probable cause/bail hearing later today, so we hope to have more information after that.

Jeepney March 24, 2022 (9:59 am)

This is concerning. I would like to see a larger police presence in that area.

bill March 24, 2022 (10:09 am)

Splendid. This is on one of the main bike routes in & out of West Seattle. So we can choose to get shot at or run with the bulls the whole length of Avalon.

Jay March 24, 2022 (10:29 am)

26th and Andover is right in the middle of an organized crime chop shop for stolen bikes. I would recommend taking a different route on your bike. Get off 26th a block before Andover, cross Delridge and get on the sidewalk that feeds into the bike path. It’s going to be a lot safer. Andover is okay to drive along but it’s much to dangerous on foot or on a bike.
- bolo March 24, 2022 (11:25 am)
  
  That stretch of sidewalk is not easily passable by bicycle. Blocked by cars parked on the sidewalk, piles of garbage on the sidewalk, and overgrown blackberry vines.
  - sam-c March 24, 2022 (11:32 am)
    
    (Plus smooshed dog poop). But, cyclists can take the bus lane north, along that stretch of Delridge, which I think would be a good alternative if you transfer from 26th to Delridge at Genesee.
- bill March 25, 2022 (7:43 am)
  
  Unfortunately Jay’s suggestion does not work for people coming from Avalon. Plunging down Gennessee is not something I want to do on a bike.

WS Taxpayer March 24, 2022 (10:22 am)

I would like to see the public health and safety concerns and nuisance to local residents addressed. The area at 26th and Andover has been a growing tumor that has obviously metastasized. Nucor has rightly pleaded with the city and we need to collectively increase the call to clean up this area.

bob March 24, 2022 (10:31 am)

@WSB – any correlation or report of a fire in the road along the same stretch of Avalon this morning? I went to the West Seattle Health Club early this morning and some of the staff mentioned there had been a lot of activity throughout the early morning hours including a fire in the street.

WSB March 24, 2022 (10:36 am)

Only thing logged on Avalon is a medical call in the midnight hour. If you meant Andover, this is the only call so far today.

snowskier March 24, 2022 (10:44 am)

Come on Lisa Herbold and city council. This isn’t a spot for poor people who are down on their luck, it’s a fully operational organized crime ring complete with the violence and public safety that come with organized crime. Can we clear out this area once and for all, not just redo the temporary sanitation exercise that was performed a few months ago. It’s a danger to all who live near there, all who use this major bike corridor for their commute and Nucor. How much more lawlessness is needed before real action occurs?

Paul March 24, 2022 (12:06 pm)

Unfortunately I have never ever gotten any type of response from her office on anything I have sent, and I have sent at least 12 messages over things that are big time safety issues. She really doesn’t seem to care much for her area. They blame everything on the pandemic.
- star 55 March 24, 2022 (3:56 pm)
  
  I agree. Multiple emails never responded to!!! VOTE HER OUT.
  - 935 March 24, 2022 (4:59 pm)
    
    Y’all had your chance!
    - Tireofexcuses March 24, 2022 (8:48 pm)
      
      She’ll get voted out next round!
- snowskier March 25, 2022 (11:57 am)
  
  Yesterday was my lucky day. I received an actual reply from Lisa Herbolds office regarding this issue. I inquired why the Neighborhood Greenway cycle route encouraged by the city had to run directly through this hall of horrors to get off the peninsula and why the city wasn’t doing anything aside from occasionally cleaning the area. My trick to getting a response, I addressed the question to Sara Nelson with a cc to Herbold!!!
  - flimflam March 25, 2022 (2:20 pm)
    
    And? What was her reply?
Tiredofexcuses March 24, 2022 (8:46 pm)

Agree! Lisa and the city council need to put more energy in protecting their constituents who are law bidding citizens. HOLD people Accountable and if they need help as they claim they do, then solve that issue. Stop all the excuses.

bob March 24, 2022 (10:51 am)

Yes – correct, I meant Andover. Thanks!

bolo March 24, 2022 (11:29 am)

RV count at that location down to 14, not including tents, tarps, cars, trucks. New addition: boat on trailer, is anybody missing one?

Duffy March 24, 2022 (12:01 pm)

Awesome! Like 50 yards from where I drop my 1.5 year old off at daycare everyday. I’m sure the Nucor folks and West Seattle Fitness are also jazzed that entire block has become a drug den/criminal enterprise. Maybe a shooting will force the city’s hand in cleaning it up? Complete disgrace.

YES2WS March 24, 2022 (12:51 pm)

Had wondered if my pepper spray would suffice when I cycle past. Now that the guns have come out, I’ll find a reroute. I know that’s easier than the city stepping in and shutting this chop shop down; but seriously, this out-of-hand situation is disgusting.

M March 24, 2022 (2:17 pm)

The only way they will get rid of the encampment is to have at least 3 fires and at least 3 shootings.

Jared March 24, 2022 (2:48 pm)

It is still the law that vehicles cannot be left on public streets for more than 72 hours. Why is it so difficult for this city to enforce its own laws, so that we don’t have these situations develop that threaten the quality of life, or in this case, life, of its citizens?https://www.seattle.gov/transportation/projects-and-programs/programs/parking-program/parking-regulations/72-hour-on-street-parking-ordinance

ImNotSparticus March 24, 2022 (3:40 pm)

We were considering finally picking up our membership with the health club after pausing it during the pandemic. Not anymore. I know that business owner’s hands are tied but I would urge them and everyone who uses that club to contact representatives and media to get that mess cleaned up.Maybe consider calling on We Heart Seattle to clean it up; they’ve had a hundred times more success than the city with dealing with situations like this.

aa March 24, 2022 (5:36 pm)

What I continue to not understand is the message that we need to honor people’s dignity and right to their homes whether it is a house or a tent by the side of the road. It would make more sense if leaving them alone didn’t mean they were living in disgusting, garbage filled piles of crap. I don’t understand how that is respecting their rights as humans to let them live in places unfit for any beings to live. And if any homeowner dared to leave piles of garbage outside of their homes, spilling out into the street, burned up piles of pallets, broken down appliances, garbage upon garbage. Would the city leave them alone? Me thinks not.

WS98 March 24, 2022 (10:33 pm)

Without more information, why do all of you commenters think that this area is ridden with crime? Where’s the proof about a known bike chop shop? The victim was traveling on a bike around 3am, shot in the leg by some unknown other person and wait…sought help from someone in one of the RV’s in that area. The RV’s in that area are a community of folks who have been there throughout the pandemic. I’m not reading about repeated crime and arrests in that area. Rather, complaints from those not down on their luck who have homes, jobs and functioning lives. Stop complaining and start helping others

Burger March 25, 2022 (2:01 am)

Not all of the crimes that occur In this area are getting reported… if they’re even known about, to be honest. They’re occurring though, you can believe it. Seen it first hand more times than I can count on two hands. Trust me, I’m an authority on this particular location and subject, though I’m not going to tell you why. The RVs, tents, and general lawlessness need to go. They’re harming the community. The good of the many outweighs the good of the few, or the one. Listen to Star Trek, people, they got it right way before we did.
Neighbor March 25, 2022 (6:05 am)

If you’re not reading about repeated crimes taking place in that area then you’re not reading. It’s been well documented, along with multiple pleas to the city to get these individuals what they need, rehabilitation included.
bill March 25, 2022 (7:39 am)

Have you been past this encampment or any others? And not zooming by in a car but on a bike? At the speed of a bike you see a lot more detail. The dismantled bikes tell their own story. The police generally treat bike theft as a joke even when the value of the stolen property rises to felony levels. Being down on your luck does not absolve you from behaving responsibly.
Bronson March 25, 2022 (8:28 am)

Are you kidding? I’m sure the 100s of bikes there are just some enterprising entrepreneur with a budding bike business operating out of “mobile” retail location. You’re not reading about repeated crime and arrests in that area because there is no enforcement. Please, feel free to spend a day or two down there and I 100% guarantee you that you will see drug use, drug sales, drunk and disorderly conduct, theft, parking violations, and so on. Stop apologizing for criminal activity. The vast majority of those in the RVs are drug-addicts. They weren’t forced into the RV by Amazon’s affect on housing costs or some other affordable housing nonsense reason.
sf March 25, 2022 (8:34 am)

Would you like:
Security cam video of break ins over the past week (also at 3:30AM)
Reports from the blog of assaults, stabbings and other shootings in the immediate area
RVs running into the gym and exploding
Vehicle gas lines cut for fuel siphoning
Nucor letters to the city detailing multiple incidents
9000 bikes and pieces of bikes that are either a meth addict sculpture garden, a bike chop shop or both.
Abandoned vehicles March 25, 2022 (8:54 am)

If this community is law abiding, non crime commiting, RV owners… then they can get their homes to an RV park and pay the cost, and abide by their rules.these are not owned by the tenants, these are all abandoned vehicles that are dumped attracting squatters. We need to continually call in these dumped vehicles until they are removed.Again, if these are owned by the people living in them, they need to be ticketed, towed, and moved. If they are not owned by the people living in them, they need to be called in as abandoned vehicles and get removed.
Chuck March 25, 2022 (9:24 am)

Where could you possibly think all of the bike parts, propane tanks, assorted tools and generators are from? Their day jobs? Nope, your back yards and garages. Just driving past this area in the daytime I have witnessed open drug deals, usage, and prostitution. I sure wouldn’t have wanted my kids seeing this when they were young.
- aa March 26, 2022 (7:57 am)
  
  Im not looking for explicit details, I’m curious what witnessing prostitution looks like. Did you actually see someone engaging in an act of prostitution? Or are you making an assumption that someone is a prostitute based on their appearance?
  - Chuck March 26, 2022 (1:59 pm)
    
    I’m assuming based on the fact that the person propositioned me at the stop sign. And maybe go through there on a walk yourself, it might solve your SJW curiosity.
JM March 25, 2022 (10:10 am)

You might not read about it but the police are there on a weekly basis with multiple units so it is not just a neighborly chat. I suggest you talk to Nucor employees, health club employees and people who actually live in the neighborhood.

WSRes March 24, 2022 (10:42 pm)

I agree with the comments in this thread. As a bike commuter I shouldn’t have to divert onto sidewalks to avoid a safety issue the city is so obviously ignoring. Seattle was a world class city and it’s being ruined by our elected representatives.

WSB March 25, 2022 (11:44 am)

UPDATE: Just learned that a suspect was arrested Thursday afternoon, at a Junction apartment. Info added above.

K March 25, 2022 (12:55 pm)

The suspect in this crime was housed. The victim was able to get help from someone living in one of the RVs. And yet somehow this whole comment section is a condemnation of homeless people. Unbelievable.

JM March 25, 2022 (3:12 pm)

I’m guessing the gentleman and his companion had a very rational reason for being there at 3am in the morning when they have a residence. Perhaps shopping for bike parts?

Burger March 25, 2022 (7:55 pm)

EXACTLY. This RV encampment is a den of drug abuse, illicit drug sales, prostitution, bicycle theft and chopping, harassment of the public and private entities, a health hazard, and an extreme eyesore that is HURTING THE BUSINESS of the gym that is being forced to accept their presence. If you want to call them neighbors, fine. But many of them are crappy, law-breaking ones, and if they’re not, they’re attracting people that don’t even approach being net positive contributors to society. Also, believe me, I’m all for funding mental health and drug abuse intervention. But this isn’t happening here!

Sorry, comment time is over.