CRIME WATCH: Work truck taken in North Highline home invasion (update: found); man hurt in street confrontation; confirmed gunfire

| Crime | West Seattle news

Three incidents in Crime Watch today:

TRUCK TAKEN IN HOME INVASION: From Lauren, who says this happened in unincorporated North Highline near 1st SW/SW 102nd [map]:

I want to let everyone know of a serious and scary thing that happened Monday afternoon around 2 pm to my brother’s family.

While my brother and his wife were out of town celebrating their wedding anniversary, a red-haired man with a British accent and a gun forced his way into my brother’s house. Three of my brother’s children, ages 11, 14 and 17, were home at the time because Highline District is on spring break this week. The intruder herded the kids into the bathroom at gunpoint and told them to stay there. Then the intruder took a laptop computer, cash, and a large key chain that had house keys and vehicle keys, which he then used to steal my brother’s pickup truck that he uses for his business. The truck has a large locking cap in the bed where tools are stored, but of course, the key to the cap was also on the key chain, so the robber will be able to access all the tools in the truck.

We are grateful that no one was physically injured, but the family is understandably traumatized. King County Sheriff responded and is investigating, but if my fellow West Seattleites could keep an eye open for a 2013 dark gray Ford F-150 with extended cab, A.R.E. tall gray cap in in the truck bed with a ladder rack on top, plate C62081H, we would appreciate it! KC Sheriff’s Incident number is C22011202.

UPDATE: The truck’s been found.

MAN HURT IN STREET CONFRONTATION: A neighbor of the victim let us know about this incident, and we just obtained the police-report narrative. Monday night just before 8 pm, police responded to the 9000 block of 4th SW [map] for a report of a “fight.” The victim said he was driving southbound on 4th when he encountered two vehicles “partially blocking the road” and got out of his car to ask them to move. He told police he was then confronted, with one man pointing a gun at him, and the other shoving him, causing him to fall and hit his head on the pavement. He was taken to a hospital by private ambulance. He couldn’t provide much descriptive information except that one of the cars was a red Toyota Camry and he thought both men were white; a neighbor who called police described the two men as Native, with the one who pulled the gun having long dark hair. The neighbor said there were five other people not involved in the confrontation and that everyone got in the cars afterward and headed southbound – but first some items were thrown in his recycling bin. Police say one was the registration for a red Camry; as of the time of the report, they had not been able to reach the registered owner.

RIVERVIEW GUNFIRE: A short summary from police says they checked out a report of what sounded like eight shots near 12th SW and SW Othello [map] just after 11:30 last night. Officers “found evidence of a shooting on the grass.” No injuries or property damage reported. Nobody in the area saw the shooting but police were told a blue Jeep was seen heading southbound on 12th right after the shots.

Alkibean April 6, 2022 (12:41 pm)

Along with the woman last week who’s front door was nearly busted down it makes this pacifist think about buying a gun.

Rocket April 6, 2022 (1:48 pm)

You are not the pacifist you claim to be if you think buying a gun will save you. Buying a gun mostly makes you more likely to be shot (by your own gun at that) or robbed (by someone who wants to take your gun when you aren’t home). Don’t do it. If truly worried of being robbed the evidence is clear about what not to do (get a gun) and what to do (get a dog).
- U. Crane April 6, 2022 (2:38 pm)
  
  Lots of folks who follow a pacifist ethos don’t have any problem with the concept and practice of defending themselves against overt aggression. Don’t make the classic entry level mistake of thinking that Pacifist = Will Never Lift A Finger To Protect Themselves No Matter What.
Neighbor April 6, 2022 (2:54 pm)

Owning a gun doesn’t automatically make you safer. In fact statistically it’s the opposite. Keeping a deadly weapon in your home represents both a risk and a responsibility. If you do buy a gun be prepared to also get trained in proper use. And be prepared to practice regularly. Also, in the unfortunate situation you do have to use it be prepared for the psychological trauma and the ruinous litigation that will follow.
Sunuva April 6, 2022 (5:03 pm)

There are also many forms of non-lethal protection to consider. Stun guns, pepper spray, batons, security lights, flash lights, self protection training, alarm systems, theft prevention devices, all of which can help to protect you none of which should result in you killing somebody. That is not even a comprehensive list.

The way I look at it, every layer of protection you add helps. Add locks, lights, non-lethal combat weapons, self defense training together and you’ll be 4 layers more protected than without. I’m not saying don’t get a gun, I’m just saying it doesn’t necessarily need to be your first choice if you are feeling vulnerable.

Jeepney April 6, 2022 (1:41 pm)

Alkibean, likewise. I never felt I needed to have a gun, but the actions of city leadership (particularly the city council and former mayor) have made Seattle much less safer. Citizens are on their own when it comes to protecting themselves or their property.

flimflam April 6, 2022 (1:42 pm)

Anyone willing to “herd” kids at gunpoint needs to be apprehended immediately, no weepy sentencing by the judge…outrageous.

Chuck Jacobs April 6, 2022 (3:12 pm)

“In May 2001 Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th and current Dalai Lama (the head monk of the Gelugpa lineage of Tibetan Buddhism), made a three-day visit to Portland, Oregon, during which he gave a talk to 7,600 area high school students in what was billed by organizers as the “Educating the Heart Summit.”As reported by the Seattle Times, during that talk the Dalai Lama responded to a question posed by a student about how to react to a potential school shooter by stating that it would “be reasonable to shoot back with your own gun,” with the proviso that one should aim to wound and not to kill.”
https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/dalai-gun/

I own and carry a gun for the same reasons the police do, to protect myself and my loved ones from those who would do us harm. A firearm should not be used to kill or wound. A firearm is used to stop the threat. Often that doesn’t require firing the gun, but if it does, attempting to deter someone who is using lethal force against you by wounding them in the arm or leg is a really bad idea. No one trained in defensive firearm use does that.There is no conflict with a pacifist owning and training to use a firearm. Most gun owners I know would fit most people’s definition of pacifist.

Seattlite April 6, 2022 (4:53 pm)

How horrific and traumatizing for those children. Just a reminder to you all: Situational awareness is key when walking about in Seattle these days. Over the past five years, I have found my self in three extremely scary situations (Lincoln Park, Burien PCC parking lot, Bartells on Madison St.) that could have turned bad if it were not for me being aware of my surroundings and following my instincts. Yesterday was the third scary situation. Iftwo cars were blocking a street I was driving on, I would make a fast u-turn or drive backwards at a fast pace but with control. At age 74, I have been around the block a few times and know how to keep myself safe.

Mj April 6, 2022 (5:38 pm)

Neighbor – I agree about the psychological affect but not sure about litigation. Any perp in your home is a threatening situation and you have a legal right to defend yourself! I personally keep a baseball bat at my nightstand and hope to never have to use it.

BlairJ April 7, 2022 (10:07 am)

Unfortunately for the victim in this case, 4th avenue SW is a dead end street. So if he was heading southbound in the 9000 block, there would have been no alternate route.

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