WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Police investigating gunfire in Sunrise Heights

| Crime | Sunrise Heights | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

(WSB photos)

4:45 PM: Thanks for the tips. Police are investigating gunfire reported this past half-hour in Sunrise Heights. Shell casings have been found. No victims reported so far. We’re at the scene and will be updating.

4:54 PM: The photo was taken at 32nd and Webster [map]; police tell us they found “several” casings. They also confirm no reports of anyone being hit/hurt. The only description information they have so far is that this may have involved a “red car and gold car.” They’re about to leave the scene.

5:04 PM: Or maybe not. Dispatch has just told officers someone just called in to report finding another casing, in the alley in the 3100 block of SW Webster.

ADDED FRIDAY MORNING: Police say it’s possible this incident and the later gunfire in High Point are related. Their summary says, “Witnesses advised that a red sedan was following a white sedan from behind, heading westbound on SW Webster St. Witnesses said an unknown suspect from the red sedan was firing shots toward the white sedan. After hearing the shots, other witnesses reported that a gold sedan was seen speeding away from the area.” If you have any information, the incident # is 22-106468.

Kelsey April 28, 2022 (6:16 pm)

Police have more than just “this may have involved a ‘red car and gold car.’” I saw it happen and reported it, along with other neighbors who witnessed it. A red, early 90s-era BMW sedan sped west on Webster following a light-colored sedan. From my window, I saw the red car come to a stop and the driver used a handgun to fire 3-4 shots out the driver-side window either toward its front or toward a house on the south side of Webster. This was terrifying, someone could easily have been walking by, or children could have playing in their front yards. This happened in broad daylight in a very residential area.

LauraE April 28, 2022 (8:37 pm)

If someone has to be witness to such a terrifying moment, I’m glad you had such a good view. My kids had just walked in the door from school just shortly before the shooting- they walk east from 35th on Webster and could’ve walked right into the hot spot. The casing found in the alley was actually the slug of a hollow point from an assault rifle. My daughters were inside our house only about 20′ from where the casings were found. The police noted that these sort of shooters aren’t known for their precise aim. Truly terrifying.

Rhonda April 28, 2022 (10:43 pm)

Handgun bullets tear right through walls of houses and vehicles with enough energy to cause severe injury or death on the other side. Tiny assault rifle projectiles cannot penetrate walls or vehicle bodies. That may explain why there weren’t any rounds through houses in that densely-populated area. Since the same type of shell casing was found near Morgan shortly thereafter, it’s likely the same shooter(s).
- Question Authority April 29, 2022 (5:33 am)
  
  Your take on ballistics is incorrect and misleading, any and all bullets will penetrate windows of both vehicles and homes with tragic results.
  - Rhonda April 29, 2022 (1:31 pm)
    
    My husband is a law enforcement firearms instructor. I never said bullets wouldn’t penetrate windows. I said small, lightweight assault rifle bullets don’t penetrate walls and vehicle bodies. That’s why SWAT teams use the tiny 5.56 and 5.7 rifle calibers in urban settings.