Odd son October 31, 2022 (10:17 pm)

Just heard sirens, checked wsb.

Dan Keller October 31, 2022 (10:19 pm)

Fire engines just past my apt on the corner of California Ave SW & SW Hanford.

A.G. October 31, 2022 (10:19 pm)

So that explains the dozens of sirens flying down Admiral just now. Yikes. I hope everyone is ok.

A.G. October 31, 2022 (10:20 pm)

That explains the dozens of sirens flying down Admiral just now. I hope everyone is ok.

Dan Keller October 31, 2022 (10:22 pm)

Fire trucks just roared by my apt on California and Hanford. More sirens in the distance.

Jason October 31, 2022 (10:24 pm)

Heard about 10 consecutive gun shots a block in from Alki on 62nd

Kari R October 31, 2022 (10:26 pm)

I heard the gunfire, a lot of shots were fired. It sounded to me like two different guns.

S October 31, 2022 (10:26 pm)

About 7-8 cop SUV’s screaming up Admiral with more screaming by. 3 ambulances, Medic, Firetruck. You could tell it was likely a bad crime incident. And more emergency vehicles. This is awful :(Couldn’t help but notice a batch of cars high tailing it down Harbor ave and out of west Seattle, hmmm

Don Brubeck October 31, 2022 (10:28 pm)

10 SPD cars, 2 SFD engines, a ladder truck and two ambulances just passed by going toward Alki on Admiral Way.

Julian October 31, 2022 (10:29 pm)

I heard 10-15 shots and then 2-3 in response. Just saw police form up and walk down 61st ave sw turn and head up towards 62nd. That was crazy.

Mj October 31, 2022 (10:30 pm)

I heard numerous sirens and figured something was going on. Easy solution is to check the WSB for answers, thank you.

Peter S. November 1, 2022 (3:29 pm)

On a side note, I live above Admiral Way, heard all the sirens, and both wife and I agreed it was time to check “The Blog”. Got a couple of consecutive “Database connection error” responses and presumed the web site was flooded by connection requests. I guess it’s a compliment and sign of success when everyone in WS seemingly races to WSB for info to the point of overloading. I know it’s the first place I check :)
- WSB November 1, 2022 (3:36 pm)
  
  I apologize for the (short-lived this time) connection difficulty. We have upgraded the server many times and this happens a lot less often than it did a few years ago, but we still haven’t gotten to “infinitely expandable when needed” status. Trying!
  - Peter S. November 1, 2022 (6:21 pm)
    
    No reason to apologize. WSB is an invaluable community resource.

Cameron Monzon October 31, 2022 (10:30 pm)

Seems like every cop, ambulance, and fire engine in the area is going down admiral heading towards the beach. They’ve all been flying down the hill for the last 15 minutes straight.

tenlow October 31, 2022 (10:31 pm)

I was on the beach drive side of 64th, heard 15 or so shots from two obviously different guns. Immediately started listening to the police scanner to confirm, then the sirens started.

Kari R October 31, 2022 (10:49 pm)

I heard the same thing. Definitely sounded like two different guns.

Bo October 31, 2022 (10:32 pm)

At least 10 police cars, 2 ambulances, one medic vehicle, and one firetruck have passed on Admiral Way.

Dml October 31, 2022 (10:33 pm)

Tactical squad of 8+ ran down 61st ave and turned west on alki

Alki resident October 31, 2022 (10:37 pm)

100% reason why I hate Halloween

Peter October 31, 2022 (10:50 pm)

@alki residentis this a particularly bad year for gun shots on alki? I’ve lived here 6 months and it seems to happen pretty frequently, albeit not as many shots as tonight.
- tenlow October 31, 2022 (11:03 pm)
  
  I’ve lived in the Alki area since October of 2015 (happy anniversary to me) and visited many times before that, pre covid I’d guess the average was 2 shootings a year, almost always during the summer. Sometimes there’d be a drug related shooting but that was always a private issue (not that it makes it any better) but at least not shooting with crowds around. So my memory is 2-3 per year *maximum*, someone else please correct me if I am wrong.
  - Greg November 1, 2022 (8:26 am)
    
    Sounds about right
- Alki resident November 1, 2022 (8:27 am)
  
  Peter I no longer live on the strip but will agree with tenlow. My comment in general is for our whole country. It’s a perfect time to be masked in with the rest of the crowd on Halloween and I don’t have the energy to post a couple of situations I remember clearly over the years but it’s made me decide to lock my gates and turn off my lights on Halloween for now on. The little kids are great and cute but Halloween is too sinister for my family anymore. Also Peter, welcome to the area
Mellow Kitty November 1, 2022 (10:58 am)

So, what, we should ban Halloween? People get shot on other holidays – like Thanksgiving & Christmas. Should we just cancel them because people get shot? How about weekends? Crowded bars? Large parties? Police think it was a drive by – should we ban cars? Maybe if the shooter(s) didn’t have access to a car, they wouldn’t have be able to perform the drive by. Or maybe you want to use this as an excuse to make Alki Beach private – as you seem to imply every time crime happens down there? These two people were not shot because it was Halloween. It’s not because of cars. It’s not because of teenagers. People are so willing to blame everything but the real culprit. Blame the shooter(s) and the guns.
- Chad M November 1, 2022 (12:21 pm)
  
  “Blame the gun” yes let’s blame the inanimate object that was used for the crime, that likely wasn’t purchased legally. That’s like saying we should blame a car that was used in a DUI murder.
  - Mellow Kitty November 2, 2022 (3:15 pm)
    
    Or blaming a holiday. . . As to your point on DUIs – if the drunks don’t have access to cars, they won’t kill people.
- Real November 1, 2022 (10:07 pm)
  
  Gun problem. DO NOT CONFUSE THAT!And we all know who to blame for that. I know a lot of you Alki people have voted Republican in the past 80 years or so. Problem is the REAL REPUBLICANS like it. Just look at where the crime is happening..sad but true.fun fact: when I was a kid 30 years ago. Only kids with military connections or Vietnam war ties(of any sort) could get guns. Even some gangsters could not get guns when they wanted. Then SOMETHING(GB & GWB) happened and there were just guns everywhere. 12 year olds have no problem getting a choice of handgun now.

Pete October 31, 2022 (10:37 pm)

I don’t know how many bullets one gun holds, but that had to have been at least 12 and then another bunch after. I’m on 60th/stevens. I saw a few revellers run for cover, they must’ve been absolutely terrified.I’m stunned the victims seem to have survived. That was crazy.

Cal October 31, 2022 (10:42 pm)

Heard 10-15 of gunshots (2 different guns) and 90% sure a few stray bullets wizzed passed me, I could hear the whistling sound and was unsure of it at first but I am certain now.

Alki_Neighbor October 31, 2022 (10:45 pm)

We also heard several shots from more than one gun–knew it was not fireworks since the dog did not react. Lots of police not long after. Oddly, we had been remarking earlier what a quiet Halloween night it had been…

Peter October 31, 2022 (10:47 pm)

18 casings. It seemed to never end. How awful. Shame on the people responsible, at least it was late and not during the evening. This could’ve been even worse.

DarkKnight October 31, 2022 (10:53 pm)

Is there a description of the vehicle mentioned in the 10:47 PM update?

Balderdash November 1, 2022 (4:12 am)

Police: Early 2000 light green Yukon.

S October 31, 2022 (10:54 pm)

Ambulances and aid car heading out of West Seattle with sirens on, assuming with the shooting victims. Hope they both survive their injuries. Sad.

Kersti Elisabeth Muul October 31, 2022 (10:56 pm)

Woman was shot several times; left leg, arm, buttocks and grazing wound. Man has non-life threatening injuries

Alki Jaycee October 31, 2022 (10:57 pm)

How terrifying! we usually walk our dog near there at night I’m so glad we decided to wait. I can’t imagine how scary it would’ve been to be out there with stray bullets flying past. Hopefully those two can help identify the suspect(s) or maybe businesses nearby with cameras can help provide any footage of the suspects vehicle.

Chevron October 31, 2022 (10:57 pm)

I herd about 10 gun shots at approximately 10:08 PM and then another 7-8 shots that sounded like it was from a different gun immediately after! I then herd a males voice shouting not to go down there because someone was shooting from a gray truck.

Nancy Douglas October 31, 2022 (11:07 pm)

We live on Alki between 61st and 62nd. We definitely heard the gunshots and it was from 2 guns. Is there any danger left to the public that anyone is aware of? This is the second shooting incident in this block. Last one was ~July 2021 when another senseless death occurred. Is there something we can do to make our neighborhood safer?

L206 October 31, 2022 (11:45 pm)

We definitely need more police presence in the area at night driving/patrolling the neighborhood. I live on 60th and I’m nervous about going outside at night to walk my dog now. It won’t solve everything but people may think twice about coming and driving on Alki shooting out of their vehicles if they see police nearby.
- flimflam November 1, 2022 (7:57 am)
  
  Unfortunately that is true of many, many spots throughout the city and has been for years. The police department has been short staffed for ages and they simply don’t have the manpower to do it.
  - Jay November 1, 2022 (9:35 am)
    
    is that true? has been the story for awhile. might be useful to see logs of what they are doing, where they are post shifts. some accountability. I see more cops on pleasant-weather days – daytimes – than hanging around at night. I support them, but let’s see the facts.
    - neighbor November 1, 2022 (11:07 am)
      
      I recall at a community meeting a while back that the police staffing level basically only allowed them to continually respond to 911 calls. There weren’t any “extra” officers to just post shifts in specific locations because they were always reacting to one call after another. I also wish we had enough officers to deter crime rather than just respond to it.
  - Seattlite November 1, 2022 (9:53 pm)
    
    The police officer shortage is for a reason. Seattle’s city council and their policies which do not keep Seattleites safe or police officers safe.

Darlene October 31, 2022 (11:12 pm)

This kind of violence needs to end. This is a neighborhood with lots of children on a night when children are out and about. I hope the victims recover. Very sad event for our neighborhood. And hopefully cameras help catch these foolish gun slinging idiots before someone dies.

Dolly November 1, 2022 (1:01 pm)

+10000 to more CCTV on public places like Alki Beach and its surroundings.

On60th November 1, 2022 (12:04 am)

Thankfully it was a really oddly quiet Halloween. Usually my kids, along with others, are down there on Halloween. The entire point this year was oddly quiet with few people out and tricker treaters. Random drive bys aren’t “a thing” on Alki, please keep us apprised of what you learn as this unfolds. Sorry for all my neighbors that were visibly shaken up. It’s not a way any of us wanted to see Halloween end in our neighborhood.

Sergio V November 1, 2022 (12:32 am)

Second shooting in about 2 months on Alki and 62nd. This is ridiculous. The night of the first shooting I spoke to one of the Police Officers and suggested that we need more presence on this side of Alki; his response was “we know and we want to help but we’re pretty short staffed due to Police defunding”. So what Seattle needs to do is NOT defund the police but re-train, redirect them. The consequences of defunding are now obvious with the crime increase all over Seattle. What a senseless act tonight; this is where we’re heading as a society. As a community we can invest on security cameras; they help in some way catch these scenes and perhaps the criminals. I know my wife and I are doing that first thing in the morning. Be vigilant, be safe and don’t forget to vote.

Jenn November 1, 2022 (10:25 am)

Sergio, can you give some data on how “defunding” caused short staffing? Also can you please show us exactly how “consequences of defunding are now obvious” and let us know which part of budget reductions (that happen frequently to all manner of publicly funded things) led to this shooting? Legend has it that shootings happened before “defunding” and police weren’t actually preventing crime back then, but responding AFTER crimes happened, just like today. Crime has actually decreased, so it seems like you’re saying you know more than the rest of us and you sound pretty confident about it. Looking forward to your numbers!
- flimflam November 1, 2022 (11:04 am)
  
  Jenn, the city police dept has been short staffed for years and years, for multiple reasons. I recall years ago a comparison to Boston, a similarly sized city – they had hundreds more cops than Seattle. A simple google search will show you comparisons.
- Maria November 1, 2022 (11:08 am)
  
  Common sense tells us it is so. Sergio could play with numbers just as you can. Crime has not decreased unless you are looking at particular catagories, and statistics change depending on sources and date ranges one chooses.
- Tom November 1, 2022 (12:41 pm)
  
  With your head buried in the sand…All I can see is an >A–!
  Pardon me for asking, but in what fantasy world do you live there, Ms. Jenn? If I were to take a guess I’d suspect the same one in which 911 never happened, global warming is not a threat, the rivers are made of chardonay, and money trees grow wild worldwide. You want some “numbers”, Ma’am? Ok. Here are just a few key statistics on gun violence in Seattle throughout 2020. coming dircet from Chief Diaz of the SPD. (Links to reference wll be provided at the bottom of this comment)
  
  April 2022:
  
  We’ve had over a 95% increase in more shots fired, with a 171% increase in people being shot compared to last year,” Police Chief Adrian Diaz told our numb City Council recently. “And last year was one of the highest years we’ve had on record.”As of April 6, Seattle has experienced 16 murders. Aggravated assaults rose 24% last year, but the first quarter of 2022 is 33% higher than the same period of 2021. And violent crime is up 32% compared to the first quarter of last year.
  
  May 2022:
  
  “For the first 5 months, there have been 75 percent more shots fired in Seattle compared to last year.”
  
  AUGUST 2022:
  
  (This is referencing the month of August ALONE.)
  
  “Seattle police continue to report an extreme rise in gun violence and homicides. According to Detective Valarie Carson, there were 11 reported homicides in the city. The Seattle Times states this is the most the city has seen in a month in almost 15 years.”
  
  SEPTEMBER 2022:
  
  “And it’s not just the homicides on the rise. Shootings are also up. So far in 2022, we’ve seen 513 shots fired compared to 391 at this time last year”
  
  Still not satisfied there, Jen? Let’s take a look at some More Numbers then shall we?
  
  Seattle Homicides:
  
  2022 YTD Total: 52
  
  2022 Fatal Police Shootings: 32021 Total: 422021 Fatal Police Shootings: 210 Year Average: 28.8Record High: 69 in 1994
  
  You’re right. Of course there was crime before the city did away with the majority of our police force. You’re also correct in stating that the police did little to prevent crimes from happening before they happened. However, as a man who has had his entire life marginalized by a corrupt justice system, and lost nearly everything due to the police, even i have too admit that thhere seems to be a pattern herre. Although the responnsibility does not only lie with the loss of our police force. It’s a compound issue of poor access to subpar mental health and social servicces as well. We as a soociety are in unpreccedented times. Forced to stare down the barrel of nationwide drug addiction crisis that is genocidal in perportion, there’s a preposterous and sickening deficit of affordable housing, then of course, our city wide judical catch and release policy. Police don’t prevent crimes here Jen. They solve them. Which in turn happens to deter criminals from committing them habitually. Weather it be fascist, or anarchist, the law of the land is never without consequence. You’re the reason our city is as it is, Jen. You should be ashamed. It’s the ignorant, self righteous, insulting, head in the sand albiest fools like you that will be the demise of Our city, and possibly our country as a whole. I hope you never breed.
- Dolly November 1, 2022 (1:03 pm)
  
  It’s not really explained either but giving more context from Seattle Times:”Due to the backlash to the “defund the police” debacle, Seattle is now down 375 officers — putting the force at 1990s staffing levels, right along with the crime rate. This happened even though the city cut the police budget far less than the promised 50%. Chief Diaz said morale is so low that it’s hard to get cops to want to come work here anymore.Last year, councilmembers reversed course and funded the hiring of 125 new officers. But Diaz told them late last month that the department has only been able to recruit and hire seven this year, while 34 more quit or retired. So the department is still shrinking as crime soars.Meanwhile the effort to stand up an unarmed public safety force, as an alternative to militarized cops, is proceeding at about the same turgid pace as fixing the West Seattle Bridge.”https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/seattle-continues-to-go-backward-on-crime-as-much-as-30-years-back/
- Admyrl Byrd November 1, 2022 (1:44 pm)
  
  Can you please stop with the tired tropes defending the defunding the police? Well-document that shootings and homicides are up in Seattle, King County, Tacoma and Pierce county in 2022 even though national trends are down. What crime is down? Or maybe it’s that we stopped reporting non-violent?So – show me exactly – how crime is down in Seattle Jenn?
  - Smoosh November 1, 2022 (7:47 pm)
    
    The thing that is tired is people saying the police were defunded. This is objectively untrue and just whiny nonsense.
Derek November 1, 2022 (11:39 am)

Sergio why are you blindly believing a cop on “defunding” thing when that is not true at all? Absurd. Plus we can’t even fact check your comment as a troll comment or something the cop even said at all. THE POLICE WERE NEVER DEFUNDED. REPEAT THAT TO YOURSELF.
- alki_2008 November 1, 2022 (12:54 pm)
  
  It seems to be more about the calls for defunding and the lack of expanded funding that contributes to the shortage of police officers. People don’t want to be police officers in Seattle. People would rather go to other jurisdictions than SPD because of all the “defund” rhetoric in this city. If you want “good cops” in your city, then you need to attract and retain them. You don’t want to be a city that is such an unattractive workplace that the only candidates you get are the ones that couldn’t get a job elsewhere.
- Dolly November 1, 2022 (1:04 pm)
  
  Strange, a budget cut is a budget cut, no?https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/seattle-continues-to-go-backward-on-crime-as-much-as-30-years-back/
- J Wales November 1, 2022 (3:39 pm)
  
  Whatever the funding, half of the police force left after all the hate and protracted mayhem over the past three years. Imagine any department or company losing half of its staff and then trying to keep up with demand. Impossible. Seattle gets what the leaders asked for.
Jay November 1, 2022 (12:02 pm)

These comments need to be fact checked because the defunding never actually happened. And there’s enough money in the budget that the median cop salary is around $160k because they are freely defrauding overtime.
- Lauren November 1, 2022 (1:18 pm)
  
  Thank you, Derek and Jay.SPD budget has steadily increased over the years: https://sccinsight.com/2020/06/30/understanding-the-seattle-police-department-budget/
  - Julian November 1, 2022 (7:13 pm)
    
    Have you ever heard of inflation and it’s impact on spending in general

Alki Resident November 1, 2022 (12:52 am)

We heard the shots, one of the many 911 callers. I’m surprised they’re saying it was a drive by shooting as we heard 2 different guns firing. Frightening to think we’d normally be walking our dogs at this time. Thank you WS blog for being the first on the scene. If anyone will get answers from SPD, it’s you all. Enough is enough. We need regular police presence and other forms of deterrence (cameras, neighborhood watch, etc.).

seemsSimple November 1, 2022 (1:08 pm)

Cameras + a new police station or more Community Police Team officers + judges that don’t release these individuals the next day
Ferns November 1, 2022 (7:47 pm)

Granted My perception comes mainly from movies but if more than one person is in the car driving by they might each have a different gun. therefore two different guns would be heard being fired even in a drive-by shooting. So it’s unclear if there was anyone outside of the reported vehicle firing back or if all of it was coming from inside the vehicle, just by different people. there are sometimes shootings in the Alki area on random nights, I definitely avoid it on a) summer weekends and now, apparently, b) all holidays. …It’s hard to picture such stupidity and cruelty. I’d place a bet on the perps having a traumatizing/abusive/neglectful upbringing void of empathy. 7 shots hit the female victim? Outrageous.

Alan November 1, 2022 (12:59 am)

Looking at some of the shell casings, it appears to be .556 and .223, both high caliber rifle rounds. No matter the ammunition those responsible for randomly popping off nearly twenty rounds of high caliber rifle fire, IMHO never needs to see the light of day again. And I own guns myself. What the hell possess someone to fire indiscriminately at people known/unknown to the perpetrators. It’s way beyond time to start throwing these waste/s of DNA into prison, NO EXCEPTIONS.

Julian November 1, 2022 (2:43 am)

Neither .223 nor 5.56 rounds are considered large/high caliber rounds and are actually fairly small. Agree with everything else you said though.
- Marv Ellis November 1, 2022 (10:41 am)
  
  Thank you for educating them. I was gonna but saw your comment. I would also like to add that people should not comment on things they know nothing about. It’s one of the reason people are so misguided about our rights and the tools we legally possess and use.
- Peter S. November 1, 2022 (11:16 am)
  
  Although you are technically correct, .223 has been used by the US Army in their standard-issue rifle (M-16) for decades, starting in Viet Nam. So, it’s plenty adequate for killing humans. Unfortunately, that has been proven in several mass shootings.
  - Adam November 1, 2022 (1:35 pm)
    
    Every type of bullet is capable of killing humans. Also capable? Water and house cats and cotton candy. Why don’t we focus on not creating humans who would like to harm others regardless of the objects at their disposal. Inanimate objects don’t have feelings or motives or powers to make you do things you otherwise wouldn’t. A broken person is a broken person and we’d better hope a lot of them are fixable, b/c sadly our approach for now is to deal with the issues after they arise. Time to get in front of it. Removing certain ammunition from the market will never heal a broken mind.
    - Nj November 1, 2022 (4:02 pm)
      
      Time for Adam and those who justify astronomical numbers of deaths with such tired ridiculous arguments.
      Let’s compare the number of American people intentionally killing others with their legal house cats, water and cotton candy versus legal firearms?
      We are the slaughterhouse of civilized societies because of firearms.
      Broken minds occur everywhere, firearm deaths do not occur where firearms are not present.
    - Julian November 1, 2022 (7:15 pm)
      
      What?
Rhonda November 1, 2022 (2:57 am)

To be clear, 556/223 is a low-powered, small, .22-caliber cartridge designed for compact carbine rifles as well as larger varmint rifles for very small game. It’s not legal to hunt even small deer in almost every state due to the low power/energy of 556/223. Police cruisers have urban patrol rifles in 556/223 at the ready as the tiny projectiles won’t penetrate most residential walls and light barriers like a high-powered rifle will. SWAT teams use it for the same reason. The victims would have almost certainly suffered fatal wounds had the attackers used high-powered cartridges. Regardless, these violent criminals were bent on murdering the victims and need to be brought to justice ASAP.
- Jay November 1, 2022 (12:05 pm)
  
  That’s a lie. It’s a high power-high velocity cartridge that is the standard NATO rifle round used by American troops in the M4 assault rifle and civilians in the AR-15. It’s a small round but has a large powder charge that gives the bullet high energy, giving it high lethality and penetrating power. I hate when people lie about this. The FMJ round can punch right through Level III armor.
- Scubafrog November 1, 2022 (4:44 pm)
  
  5.56/.223 is a small round, with a massive amount of energy. Definitely not for “hunting varmints”.
- Sick of Herbold November 1, 2022 (6:34 pm)
  
  Rhonda,combat vet here. 5.56 is what we used in combat. Still is. It is a highly devastating round. I’m sure you’re an expert though
- Sick of Herbold November 1, 2022 (6:36 pm)
  
  Rhonda,combat vet here. 5.56 is what we used in combat. Still is. It is a highly recasting round. I’m sure you’re an expert though
Julian November 1, 2022 (3:04 am)

.223 and 5.56 are not high caliber rounds.
Mel November 1, 2022 (6:03 am)

Agreed. I think we need to focus less on banning guns and more on holding people accountable when they commit crimes with a gun. That’s some immediate action that could be taken. But alas, we’d have to hold people accountable for their actions.
John Smith November 1, 2022 (7:25 am)

Alan, .223 Remington is not a “high caliber” round. I am not aware of such a thing as .556 caliber: you must have meant 5.56mm. 5.56mm X 45mm is essentially the same thing as.223 Remington. Both have a bullet that is essentially the same caliber as a .22, but with more powder. There is almost no recoil from these small caliber rounds.
- Jay November 1, 2022 (12:07 pm)
  
  This is not true. The caliber is small, but they are high power rounds. It’s the standard NATO rifle round and used in M4 assault rifles by US troops. The FMJ version can penetrate Level III body armor.
  - Julian November 1, 2022 (1:48 pm)
    
    You are not responding to what they actually said but instead are pushing a separate point.
Jay November 1, 2022 (9:37 am)

be sure to vote. prosecutors on the ballot THIS ELECTION. research them. there is a difference in philosophies that you might want to consider.
- reed November 1, 2022 (10:46 am)
  
  A candidate who supports data-driven diversion programs vs a candidate who wants to continue only locking people in jail, perpetuating their need to rely on crime. What are you suggesting Jay? Go with Ferrell whos old-school methods provide short-term relieve but only exacerbate the problem in the long run?
Marv Ellis November 1, 2022 (10:46 am)

If you own guns you need to educate yourself a little better. Neither of those are high caliber.
- Nj November 1, 2022 (4:08 pm)
  
  Caught Marv’s humor, “Neither of those are high caliber.”
  in reference to those discussing ammunition.
Reed November 1, 2022 (11:09 am)

You all are fighting over semantics that are disingenuous and frankly irrelevant to the overarching issue. The fact is a .223 or 5.52 can be a brutally devastating round, depsite it not being “high powered”. I’m sure you all know these round are meant to deform at the nose shortly after leaving the barrel, deviate from its fixed trajectory, causing the it to tumble and fragment, resulting in nasty internal wound channels that are often unrepairable and fatal. Stop trying to downplay this.
- Peter S. November 1, 2022 (11:56 am)
  
  Speaking of semantics: not quite true, Reed. You are correct about deformation, tumbling, and fragmentation, but only AFTER hitting the target. Any accuracy would be lost and you’d never hit anything intended if all that happened as the bullet left the barrel.

Rhonda November 1, 2022 (1:13 am)

This is a prime example of why next week’s election is so important, especially at our State level. We need CHANGE in Olympia and the anti-police bills of the 2021 session need to be radically overhauled or repealed. Too many Washington State residents are dying from the violent crime epidemic overwhelming the SE Sound region of our State.

Derek November 1, 2022 (11:13 am)

Police don’t prevent shootings. Not sure why people keep pushing this narrative. This has nothing to do with defunding police. Police had more funding than ever in 2021.
- explainThisPart November 1, 2022 (1:14 pm)
  
  Don’t understand why having a 1990s staffing level is something you don’t want to change despite the increasing crime rate?
  - Jeff November 1, 2022 (6:08 pm)
    
    @explain, we don’t need more cops, we need more money. So poor don’t steal or resort to gangs, we need UBI and better floor salaries and high minimum wage. More corporate taxes on Amazon and Starbucks to subsidize these things. Not more cops.
- Question Authority November 1, 2022 (6:01 pm)
  
  But significant and drastically too low staffing levels do because of the knee jerk reaction of the Council which set the negative tone regardless of funding.
shotinthefoot November 1, 2022 (1:30 pm)

@Rhonda – you have claimed here to be law enforcement or law enforcement-adjacent in some way – please do tell how police would have prevented this (or any other crime). Unless we have a Precog Unit that no one knows about, it ain’t happenin.
- Rhonda November 1, 2022 (3:05 pm)
  
  I’ve been a police officer on the Eastside for many years. If the shooters saw an SPD unit anywhere along the Alki Beach area last night they wouldn’t have opened fire on the two victims, period. They shot them because they knew they’d get out of the area before SPD or Port of Seattle police could apprehend them.
- Cranky November 1, 2022 (6:20 pm)
  
  has nothing to do with preventing this crime. Has every thing to do with preventing the next one if police are able to match ballistics and catch the perps and judges jail them. That’s the prevention aspect. You take them out of circulation for at least at time.

West November 1, 2022 (4:17 am)

This is terrorist activity if I’ve ever heard of it. This stuff shouldn’t even be happening people getting hurt on this level is so wrong! there needs to be more done to prevent this type of violence it is a horrible atrocity that has plagued the West Seattle White Center and Westwood area for some time random shootings gun violence is horrible and should not even be happening on the level that it has been. people have gone mad this is horrible and some of this is straight up terrorism that needs to be stopped now.

Admiralty November 1, 2022 (4:32 am)

Seattle, especially Alki is in desperate need for significantly more police presence. I’m an east coast transplant and quite frankly, I’m appalled by the utter lack of police officers in the Seattle area. Police presence does deter crime, including traffic violations. Seattle needs to get their act together and at least make an attempt to make their citizens “feel” safer. This place is the modern Wild West and that isn’t a good thing.

MyThruppence November 1, 2022 (8:15 am)

Every city in the country is the “Wild West” at the moment. Our area has it relatively good by Chicago, New Orleans, Memphis, Atlanta, DC, Philadelphia, Detroit standards. I do know it is so much worse here than it used to be, but this is also the case for virtually every other city in the country too. Let’s hope the fever breaks soon. It sure seems related to the anxiety surrounding our never-ending election cycles that wrench upon us all. I am very anxious to cast my ballot and suggest every one of you do it too.
- Admirality November 1, 2022 (10:56 am)
  
  It isn’t. I spend a lot of time in DC. Seattle is by far worse than the DC area. Crime on the east coast is different, as it tends to be more localized. Seattle is out of control and it is apparent everywhere. Time to ramp up with more police (and actually prosecute people). It’s lawless here, to say the least.
  - MyThruppence November 3, 2022 (12:05 am)
    
    Choose a crime metric and lets compare per capita DC vs. Seattle. Waiting.
- AdmyrlByrd November 1, 2022 (1:48 pm)
  
  Notsomuch by Orange County standards. Have seen several traffic stops in the 3 days have been down here. Also saw a speed trap in Medford OR on the way down.Public safety isn’t a matter for budget constraints or political footballs. Seattle City Council has long since abdicated it’s responsibility and it’s only fitting that they can’t find the perp who’s “littering” Khama’s lawn.

CarDriver November 1, 2022 (6:29 am)

Yikes!! Live a block and a half from all this and slept through the whole thing.

Darlene November 1, 2022 (6:35 am)

If it was rifles and shot guns, someone pulled one out on me in a road rage last week over on 35th and avalon. They just pulled over and got the gun and showed it to me. Well, showed it to us. I was just a passenger but very shaken up. They had passed us on the wrong side driving crazy on delrgige, turned on Genesee up to Avalon then at the corner of Avalon and 35th pulled out the gun. In front of all kinds of people right in the middle of the day. Its getting scary.

Gabby November 1, 2022 (9:47 am)

That sounds really awful.Had several incidents with drivers getting ragey at me (honking, flashing lights, speeding to pass when there’s no passing lane) on both California and 35th Ave SW over the past few years… because I was going the 25mph speed limit. It’s gotten so bad that if I see a car speeding up behind me, I quickly pull over or turn down a side road just to let them easily pass. Because I don’t want to get shot… for going the speed limit.

marcus November 1, 2022 (7:00 am)

horrable, absolutly horrable! Even non-life threating injuries take a lifetime to heal or many times are ever present. As a society we have allowed this to progress of casual shots in the night to now the targeting of people for fun. We need to bring back the SPD to full and overstaffing, install cameras and surveillance, provide SPD patrols and get new judges that will not release people on bail for violent activities. enough is enough.

alki_2008 November 1, 2022 (1:04 pm)

How do we get new judges? Is there a way for the public to affect this? Most judge positions on the ballot show one candidate, running unopposed, so it seems like there isn’t much that can be done from a voting standpoint. Maybe just not vote for them at all to show a lack of support?
Donna Snow November 1, 2022 (1:05 pm)

There’s always something bad going on at Alki! I stay far away!

MrsB November 1, 2022 (7:35 am)

And that’s why we moved to Bainbridge Island…..

Reed November 1, 2022 (8:30 am)

Please. The fact is violent crime is up everywhere, even the most conservative crap holes.
- Romangod November 1, 2022 (9:09 am)
  
  That’s incorrect. False facts.
- Adam November 1, 2022 (1:43 pm)
  
  They merely mentioned their location, and yet you couldn’t resist making this a party battle. This is only evidence that you cannot compete in this debate using sound rationale and logic, and you’ve shown your biases you use to protect your ego when faced with these battles. Just debate based on the merits of your argument, not where you’ve placed them politically using only two things: your own biases and the fact they don’t hold the same beliefs as you in this particular debate. It’s what small children do before they’re educated Also, we could probably attach most of this paragraph above to 90% of comments on this blog.
  - reed November 1, 2022 (3:21 pm)
    
    Adam the innuendo is there in MRSB’s comment, sorry if it went over your head. Crime (and violent crime in this instance) is only on the rise and only a problem in major US cities that tend to be more liberal. This is a consistent and factually incorrect front-running conservative talking point, so me bring politics into it is absolutely relevant.
    - Julian November 1, 2022 (7:21 pm)
      
      It’s not relevant, you are politicizing someone saying they moved from because they moved to an area of the same city that they felt was safer. I don’t understand your logic…

Sick of Lisa November 1, 2022 (7:46 am)

When is Lisa Herbold going to hold a W Seattle community meeting? She voted time and again to defund. She continues to pursue anti police investigations and policies while our city sinks into a crime, trash and drug infested pit of despair. She shows zero leadership. Hides from constituents and has never had a real job. She’s only ever worked in politics. She has no idea how build better performing teams. Newsflash, defunding them isn’t it. I travel constantly all over the country for work. Outside of Portland and maybe SF I haven’t seen worse than Seattle. It’s insane. I will do everything I can to ensure she is defeated in her next election.

AdmyrlByrd November 1, 2022 (1:49 pm)

But but but she got the police out of traffic enforcement.That worked well.

Mike November 1, 2022 (8:22 am)

Welcome to Our Failed City. Good thing we have a new mayor who’s going to put a stop to this kind of stuff, huh? Any day now, Mr. Mayor…

Question Authority November 1, 2022 (9:29 am)

The blame is on the Council for creating the current state of Public Safety, the Mayor is dealing with that circus pretty well given the wreckage he inherited.
- WS Guy November 1, 2022 (1:29 pm)
  
  Bruce Harrell was president of the council. He inherited his own work.
Derek November 1, 2022 (9:34 am)

Gun control needs to happen at federal level. These losers come from Idaho and Spokane even. A lot of times these violent offenders come from other states.
- alki_2008 November 1, 2022 (1:07 pm)
  
  Can you provide some facts to back-up your statement, particularly the one about violent offenders coming from other states. Seems like they’re usually from one of the other cities in King or Pierce county, if they are ever identified at all of course.
- Audifans November 1, 2022 (4:57 pm)
  
  Talking about gun control but the laws we have aren’t even being enforced.Talking about repeat offenders being from out of state. Huh? You just can’t ever look at what is happening at the local level.Guns are rampant with these losers and repeat offenders. You aren’t going to deal with them until you start charging them with things like armed robbery and not pleading them down. Stop repeat offenders by jailing them. They won’t be out ‘repeating’ … (but of course you don’t like that answer and you wanna blame capitalism on all criminal problems.)They use a firearm in a crime, they go to jail and stop using firearms in crimes. Derek, kinda has looney toons on the mind when it comes to dealing with these people.

sam-c November 1, 2022 (8:30 am)

So maddening that gun violence continues… anywhere. Are there any updates on the victims’ conditions?

Bybo November 1, 2022 (10:22 am)

I’m not sure on the status of the gentleman that was hit but the woman (very old friend of mine) was shot 7 times in this horrific and random attack. She’s stable and conscious but in a lot of pain, I am thankful it was not worse and pray for her safe and speedy recovery, prayers go out to her and her husband
- sam-c November 1, 2022 (2:20 pm)
  
  Thank you for the update. Wishing them strength in their healing and recovery.

Why? November 1, 2022 (8:38 am)

That’s really sad. Hope the victims are healing. Honestly no excuse for not catching these guys. How do you escape from West Sea especially when 10-15 cop cars are headed that way? They would have been caught with former Spd trained resources but that was 500 lost officers ago. Anything goes now…

Romangod November 1, 2022 (9:08 am)

This whole police ourselves strategy really working for us right ?

Shadowtripper November 1, 2022 (9:26 am)

The Seattle City Council and governing bodies including judges have brought us to this. If you continue to vote for those that make laws that protect criminals this is the result. Defunding police, allowing criminals with felony records and arrest warrants to continue to rob, steal and murder without consequences produces gang warfare over controlling the streets for profiting in drug sales. We have slipping into a gangland State & City. You can’t fight organized gangs with defunded police departments that are told not arrest people unless they see the crime committed, do not pursue, allow vehicles to drive the streets without license plates for identification, etc. etc, etc. Closing jails and juvenile facilities has only increased the average citizens chances of encountering violent attack, robbery or murder. Doing more studies on solving these issues does nothing. The streets are no longer safe. Vote to make changes not follow the same path we are on.

Derek November 1, 2022 (9:56 am)

Laughing at the KOMO-generated hyperbole in this post. The city council has anti-gun people. The pro gun republicans are the ones who supported Mr. Harrell. Do you not remember??? These are first time offenders 90% of the time. You “put everyone in jail!!!” types don’t seem to learn that that doesn’t fix anything. Bail reform and restorative justice fix these issues way more. It’s a capitalism and gun problem. Putting children in cages will not fix anything. 𝗔𝗻𝗻 𝗗𝗮𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗽𝗿𝗼-𝗴𝘂𝗻 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻. 𝗥𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘃𝗼𝘁𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗻𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲!
- Also John November 1, 2022 (11:09 am)
  
  Derek …… I want to see criminals put in jail, but never released. Criminals don’t belong in society. They made their life choices. You talk about releasing them. No thanks. Maybe someone will think twice if they realize, if I’m caught, I’ll never see outside a prison again.
  - Derek November 1, 2022 (11:43 am)
    
    So you want people to be in prison for life if they are stupid kid in a gang? That’s…..inhumane. Sorry buddy. Fascism to the highest degree there. My dad robbed a pharmacy as a kid. He was a great honorable man. I wouldn’t have been born if you want all candy store thieves in prison.
    
    Criminals exist because they are poor and look for other ways to make ends meet. It’s not default society things, it’s a capitalist system creating hyper poverty from hyper wealth. McDonald’s isn’t appealing whereas gangs are. I am not even sure a lot of these shootings are gang related. Many are first time offenders. PRISON DOES NOT WORK. It’s existed forever and crime climbs. Capitalism just creates new poverty victims who fall to crime when old ones are in jail. Overcrowding jails just makes people BETTER at crime. This is proven here: https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/times-watchdog/amid-spike-in-suicides-king-county-jail-to-restore-visits-services-within-two-years/
    - Frog November 1, 2022 (1:18 pm)
      
      Wait, wait … poverty makes people shoot random people on the sidewalk as a form of recreation? I am not sure. I know people who would disagree, who grew up in poverty much worse than anything in the USA. You know what makes people BETTER at crime? A sense of impunity. Which is what you give them.
    - Adam November 1, 2022 (1:50 pm)
      
      I applaud your dad for all his hard work rehabilitating himself and raising his kids. I grew up similarly and am still astounded today when I think of where I came from. Sadly, however, recidivism rates prove that most crimes are committed by repeat criminals. Whe I go back to my home town and the majority of my old friends are in similar spots as when we were younger, or only marginally better, it supports (anecdotally, I’ll admit) what I’ve read. First time offenders are often only that until the second crime they’re convicted of. Often these are 18-22 year old men who will again see a courtroom in the future without intervention (whatever that may be). Large swaths of crime are committed by a small number of folks.
    - Peter S. November 1, 2022 (3:13 pm)
      
      @Derek: Nobody is talking about putting kids in prison just for being in a gang or stealing candy. And, there’s a BIG difference between stealing candy and robbing a pharmacy (presumably with a weapon, or it wouldn’t be classified as a robbery). I myself was the beneficiary of a diversionary / scared straight program in my youth when I realized my good job was in jeopardy if I continued doing what I was doing, because I would no longer be bondable. Sorry, perhaps your father became a great and honorable man, but he wasn’t at that point.
      
      You and I disagree on many things based on our respective posting histories, but I will agree there is a direct link between crime and poverty. Being in a gang may seem more appealing at the time, but even McDonalds provides better prospects for the future than a gang, and many people live in poverty without ever resorting to crime.
      
      Multiple published articles will counter your argument by stating that a very small percentage of repeat offenders commit the vast majority of violent crimes, and the Seattle Times article you cite doesn’t “prove” anything. Incarceration is expensive and might not be the ONLY answer, but the cost to society is even higher by not keeping career criminals off the streets.
    - Audifans November 1, 2022 (3:43 pm)
      
      Derek. People don’t attack and stab people 160 times because they are poor. You don’t like KOMO? They do a great job of reports like this. Guy just released from jail? Kills two people. Jails don’t work? Tell that to the families of the two that no longer exist.https://komonews.com/news/local/murder-suspect-released-from-jail-days-before-he-allegedly-stabbed-killed-2-people-seattle-georgetown-king-county-prosecutors-pike-place-market-bacco-cafe-apartment-john-marcel-williams#Williams was previously arrested Labor Day weekend for attacking workers at Bacco Café near Pike Place Market. He obviously pled down to misdemeanors
    - Nj November 1, 2022 (4:14 pm)
      
      “Criminals exist because they are poor and look for other ways to make ends meet.”
      I guess that proves Trump’s innocence.
      Can’t be criminal because he is rich!
    - Scubafrog November 1, 2022 (4:56 pm)
      
      The abolition of prisons and consequences for violent crime will only perpetuate the cycle of violent crime. Anarchists are rather naive. Defund/prison abolition is one of the more ignorant far left schemes. The notion of unarmed “police” in a nation of a half-billion guns, and an extraordinarily violent culture. Alas, to be so sheltered and never having experienced the true horrors of Humanity – how nice!
- T November 1, 2022 (2:46 pm)
  
  I’m not a pro gun republican and I voted for Ann Davison Also just because you got caught committing a crime doesn’t make you a first time offender.Derek every time you respond its always trying to make the criminal the victim.No system is perfect but releasing criminals back into the public truly doesn’t work!
  - WestSeattleBadTakes November 1, 2022 (7:40 pm)
    
    Looks like Ann Davison is doing a great job, right? I mean, you voted for her to solve these issues, right?
- Question Authority November 1, 2022 (6:30 pm)
  
  So first time offenders get a free pass after almost murdering random people out walking? What type of society do you think we as a public deserve, one that gives a free pass for shooting people. Go ask the victims if they won’t press charges because it’s possible some misguided youths or adults make a poor decision. Crime needs to be paid for by punishment and the reality it’s wrong to shoot innocent people.
- Cranky November 2, 2022 (12:01 am)
  
  wow… Derek, you have just gone off the deep end. ‘children in cages?’ “Capitalism is the problem?” People are shooting at random on the street for target practice because they are poor? How about acknowledging the reality of bad actors who don’t value human life and will continue to try to hurt people unless they are stopped.
  - WestSeattleBadTakes November 2, 2022 (9:15 am)
    
    Ah yes, we forgot about the “bad actor” gene. The laziness is astounding, zero sociological understanding.
    
    But please, keep voting for your “tough on crime” candidates who also don’t understand the problem. I hope you enjoy the outcome.
Peter S. November 1, 2022 (10:54 am)

Totally agreed. Unfortunately, there were precious few opportunity to make any judicial changes in the upcoming election. There were three State Supreme Court Justice positions and fourteen Judge positions on the latest ballot. None of the Justice positions and only two of the Judge positions had an opponent, unless you want to count “write-in”. This means that most or all of our current judges, including District Court Judge Lisa Paglisotti, a former Pubic Defender who has gained some notoriety for releasing multiple repeat offenders (including here in West Seattle – https://westseattleblog.com/2021/03/crime-watch-followup-mail-theft-suspect-out-again/) on Personal Recognizance, will remain in place.

Although judges are bound by laws and constitutional requirements, they do have some discretion when it comes to release conditions, such as bail amount, etc. It’s fair to wonder if public safety is a judge’s priority when individuals who’ve clearly demonstrated they have no intention of abstaining from further criminal acts are repeatedly set free to roam among us.

Outraged blog comments of “remember this when it’s time to vote” make no difference when there’s no one else to vote for.
- Cranky November 1, 2022 (1:35 pm)
  
  Derek would believe that since prisons don’t work, just let them all out. Heh, prisons work fine, it keeps those who demonstrate they shouldn’t be out walking around, stay in for awhile. But he doesn’t like capitalism either.As to criminals exist because they are poor, that is laughable, especially in this case of a drive by shooting. They didn’t unload a couple dozen rounds on two walkers because they were so poor they had to resort to driving around in an SUV with firearms at night. Give me a break. I would rather not see a break given to hoodlums, thugs, murders and robbers.

Enough November 1, 2022 (9:31 am)

Did the new speed bumps work?

MyThruppence November 1, 2022 (9:51 am)

YOU Sir/Ma’am deserve a prize for this!

Derek November 1, 2022 (9:54 am)

GUN CONTROL NOW!!! Email your senator and reps!

Cranky November 1, 2022 (1:26 pm)

sure, whatever you say, Derek. Gun control for criminals NOW. Law abiding citizens need guns for self protection. Or haven’t you heard. Many don’t think cops do anything. So it’s up to the citizenry to do their own defense.

WSB November 1, 2022 (10:09 am)

Thank you for the update. I was about to explain that without names, hospital media relations generally won’t provide conditions (and even with names, medical-privacy laws permit people to decline to allow the release of that information). If there is anything else the community needs to know, such as requests for community support, please comment here or email us at westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you – TR

Candice November 1, 2022 (11:37 am)

Do we know the victim’s names yet?
- WSB November 1, 2022 (11:43 am)
  
  Police/fire do not release those, and we haven’t heard from any other source, so, no.

4thGenWestSide November 1, 2022 (10:10 am)

First a shooting at Pegasus’ sister bar, Tony T’s downtown, and now out front here. Hope there isn’t a connection. I’d hate to see more of this.

Burgerman November 1, 2022 (6:14 pm)

Tony T’s no longer is no longer operated by the owners of Pegasus.

Mari November 1, 2022 (10:32 am)

I head two different gun shots being fired, Also an hour before the shooting I heard a woman call the police because she was being threatened by a man in front of Pegasus restaurant. He was carrying a gun on his waist, maybe they are related? Is there a way to investigate that call that was made around 8:40pm?

Gabby November 1, 2022 (8:37 pm)

Call the Violent Crimes Tip Line at 206-233-5000 to let them know what you witnessed. Could be relevant.
Rhonda November 1, 2022 (10:47 pm)

Absolutely call 911 or 206-233-5000 and report EVERYTHING you witnessed. Write down what you saw/heard happen ASAP. Your information could be vital to this case.

WSea November 1, 2022 (11:16 am)

This is disheartening that now violent crime has crept into our neighborhood here in W Seattle more than ever before. Hope the victims have a full and speedy recovery, thankful they didn’t perish. Crazy to hear that the victims and suspects didn’t know eachother, makes you wonder if it was a case of mistaken identity that occurred here or a prior argument against 2 sets of strangers than led to this violent criminal act. I’m sure if a search was done in KC to see which repeat violent offenders were allowed back into society vs being held on bail in the last 15 days it could narrow the suspect (s) down. We need judges who will truly bring justice back to our society, that’s why our tax dollars pay their salaries. Not for them to continue to allow violent repeat offenders into society. We truly need all 3 pillars for justice and a safe society, a fully funded /staffed police department with highly qualified officers, prosecutors who will prosecute crimes to the fullest extent of the law (especially these repeat felon offenders) and judges who will jail those who commit the most egregious acts of crime especially crimes with deadly weapons. Hope there was business or residence surveillance cameras that caught these criminals and/or their getaway vehicles!

Jaye November 1, 2022 (4:24 pm)

You make several excellent points, WSea. One of the problems is we don’t know which judges are lenient on criminals. And are overcrowded jails a factor in going easy on criminals, especially those who already have a record?For instance, our ballots show most judges are running unopposed and are supposedly “nonpartisan.” I will probably end up leaving that part of the ballot blank. Or is there somewhere we can easily find out which judges have a pattern of letting criminals go free (or with minimal sentences)?

LPM November 1, 2022 (11:22 am)

The fact that this was random and the shooter was unknown to the victims is the most terrifying thing about this. It’s not safe anywhere. Godspeed.

Vlad November 1, 2022 (11:30 am)

Another reason for having CCTV cameras at Alki. If my memory of 25 years in West Seattle, there have been shootings and other crimes that have not resulted in prosecution. I’m sure I will get angry responses to my comment, but Alki is a public place that has regularly attracted trouble.

Annie November 1, 2022 (11:42 am)

The people on Alki and the businesses need more police presence in the evenings. This is a breaking point. How do we do this?

WSB November 1, 2022 (11:49 am)

If I haven’t noted this reminder already, there is a community meeting at the Southwest Precinct at 6 pm November 17th. First in-person community meeting there since pre-pandemic. Police have participated in many online community meetings (and we publicize them all in advance) but seldom have more than a person or two shown up to voice concern, ask questions, etc.

Balderdash November 1, 2022 (12:09 pm)

Police prevent these jerks from doing the 2nd crime, but you have to have judges, etc that put them in jail so they aren’t walking around to keep shooting, crime.Nothing can ‘prevent’ crime if someone is determined to drive by and just start shooting. The police are there to apprehend them if they can track down the perp.

Jay November 1, 2022 (12:11 pm)

The 2A folks in here are lying about the rounds that were fired. .223/5.56 rounds are high power, but they have a small diameter. They are high velocity rounds. It’s not a “varmint” round or a less lethal round. It’s the standard NATO round and used by US troops in M4 assault rifles as well as the AR-15 platform. It can easily penetrate body armor when using FMJ bullets. I don’t get why they have to comment misinformation in the comments around a tragedy like that. Shame on y’all.

Alki_Neighbor November 1, 2022 (1:24 pm)

Thank you for this post. As we posted last night, we heard the shots. On our dog walk this morning, there was a shocking amount of blood still visible on the ramp and grass. Hoping the victims are recuperating and will make full recoveries, at least to the physical part of their injuries.
Julian November 1, 2022 (1:45 pm)

Not sure why you take issue with misconceptions being addressed or corrected. Accurate information and terminology is important to any discussion regardless of the stance a person takes. You are correct these are high velocity rounds and yes at short range they are effective at causing significant damage on par with similarly sized pistol calibers. They are called “varmint” rounds because after a certain distance (400+ yards) they do not have the power to take down larger game. I’m pretty sure these rounds were designed by the military to be light enough to carry increased quantities by the avg soldier and to deform upon impact with the intention of wounding an enemy as opposed to killing them.I agree with you though they are more than capable of killing as is every other single round out there.
WS Guy November 1, 2022 (3:14 pm)

Not really. .223 LR is a pretty weak round, mainly for varmints. 5.56 is basically the same diameter but mil-grade and higher velocity. But those rounds don’t penetrate well unless they are 62 gr. This is pretty academic though because the police haven’t noted what was fired.
- Jethro Marx November 1, 2022 (5:19 pm)
  
  This is, like most of the “let me inform you on guns ‘n’ ammo even though you definitely didn’t ask” comments, is garbled nonsense. .223 and 5.56 are interchangeable in nearly every modern AR-15 type rifle. The bullets come in a variety of types and weights, but they’re all loud and deadly. I wish gun owners could stop being insufferable know-it-alls dispensing irrelevant misinformation. The shooter should not have a gun of any kind, and that does not mean the rest of us can’t.
  - CarDriver November 1, 2022 (6:42 pm)
    
    JethroMarx. “The way to stop a bad guy who shouldn’t have a gun is a good guy with a gun” Educate me on why the “good guys with a gun” didn’t prevent or stop this (or any other drive by) shooting.
    - Cranky November 1, 2022 (8:49 pm)
      
      The ‘prevention’ is having the police collar these creeps and ‘preventing’ it from happening again. Now if there had been someone with a gun who could have unloaded on that SUV, it would be a different story. But that isn’t what we are dealing with here. A bunch of morons decided to shoot up two people walking the neighborhood.
  - Julian November 1, 2022 (7:28 pm)
    
    I wish people would actually have a solid understanding about what they decide to rant about prior to ranting. They actually aren’t interchangeable for a number of reasons🙂
  - Jethro Marx November 1, 2022 (9:03 pm)
    
    CarDriver- I have no idea what you’re talking about, except I have heard the obviously nonsensical yet occasionally true slogan before. I’m not the droid you’re looking for.
    
    Julian- You’re really doubling down on some wacky semantics here, which is more or less what I was “ranting” about. I am sure you could find some Granddad’s ol’ varmint gun chambered in .223 Remington and maybe blow it up with a hot 5.56 round but that’s pretty far from what we’re looking at here, right? You would have to scrape pretty far down in the gun barrel to find a modern semi-auto rifle or “pistol” .223/5.56×45 that is unable to fire both rounds and handle the chamber pressure without failing. But do you really care about that? Do you really just want to turn this tale of lament into an opportunity to show what a fine point you can put on your gun lore prowess?
    
    WS guys – Implying .22 LR is similar to .223/5.56 is insane and no one could do it without sounding foolish. Talking about “.223 LR” being low-powered is just confusing. As far as penetration, no one ever said, after getting shot, “don’t worry, it’s only 55gr.” The round, regardless of what bullet it contains, is devastating.
    
    No one here cares about any of these details, they just want people to stop shooting each other.
    - Julian November 2, 2022 (7:43 pm)
      
      Words are important and should be used correctly to discuss a controversial topic. People shouldn’t have to guess at what you actually mean especially when each side feels so strongly. So maybe just make sure you aren’t saying something you didn’t actually mean next time?I’ve already described in a separate comment why rifles chambered in .223/5.56 are sometimes called “varmint” guns. I don’t think a single person who mentioned this on this board made any kind of statement that rifles chambered in .223/5.56 are not deadly.
- ws other guy November 1, 2022 (5:54 pm)
  
  WS Guy is correct. The information that he provided is not irrelevant to the conversation as it has unfolded here (which has in itself become irrelevant to the tragedy at hand).

Cranky November 1, 2022 (12:13 pm)

Police can help greatly if they can match bullet ballistics and get information as to who did this. Some criminal idiots love to talk. I encourage them..’you have a right to start talking about how you did it to your buddies at the nearest bar’. Let’s hope someone is listening..The police do their job when they put clues, information together and get a hold of the snakes who did this.

Sleepless in West Seattle November 1, 2022 (1:15 pm)

Why did Lisa Herbold oppose Mayor Harrell’s modest proposal to fund the gun shot detection pilot program?? It would have really supported the SPD investigation.

Audifans November 1, 2022 (1:42 pm)

Some here don’t like KOMO news. Too bad, so sad. They cover the crime beat and I am grateful for that. Seattle Times doesn’t seem to care all that much or spotty coverage at best. I’m really thankful to WSBlog for their up to date, comprehensive coverage.At any rate, I do hope that the police locate these trigger happy lunatics and they are jailed and taken out of circulation for a bit.

Jeff November 1, 2022 (4:44 pm)

KOMO is Sinclair owned and they’re pushed by Rupert Murdoch to push local crime stories to rile up citizens to vote for conservative candidates. There’s countless stories on their tactic. It’s gross. KOMO is a sorry excuse for journalism. Its sensationalist lies…too bad so sad!
- Balderdash November 1, 2022 (6:01 pm)
  
  heh.. no one needs to ‘push’ crime stories. Just open your eyes to the reporting in the WSB or look at who is committing rapes, robberies, assaults in the seattle area. KOMO does a good job of stating the facts. Case in point. There isn’t any hyping of these crimes. The woman was raped at gunpoint in a home invasion and the police caught them. Why the stubborness in refusing to acknowledge these things are happening. the vehicle used in the alleged attack had a tracking device on it that had previously been installed by the King County Sheriff’s Department so they were able to link that to the Kirkland home. Police said both suspects admitted to the robbery.https://komonews.com/news/local/2-men-accused-of-breaking-into-kirkland-home-sexually-assaulting-woman-holding-at-gunpoint-face-charges-king-county-jail-university-district-seattle#
- Audifans November 1, 2022 (6:07 pm)
  
  I really don’t follow your logic here. KOMO isn’t making up crime stories and they aren’t imagining the reality of crime in the area. You don’t like KOMO, fine. But their reports on what actually happened with armed criminals is to the point and specific as to what the police know, if suspects were apprehended and who was robbed or assaulted in the process. I guess your approach is ‘head in the sand’. You don’t wanna know and you malign anyone that tells you so when it comes to bad actors’KOMO isn’t making up or pushing crime stories anymore than WSB is. They both are reporting what happened. You prefer not knowing???
- CarDriver November 1, 2022 (6:44 pm)
  
  Jeff. So KOMO should not talk about crime?? You believe that will make crime go away?? Guess homeless issues will get fixed if they stop showing it???

Alki mom November 1, 2022 (2:06 pm)

This is what happens when you let smaller crimes go not investigated. It starts from the bottom: Speeding, hit and runs, theft, acts of incivility (screaming at people, damaginf property etc) all unchecked. Then it escalates. And because this country is loaded with guns, it becomes absolutely tragic. We 100% need more police.

simpleSolution November 1, 2022 (3:02 pm)

1000000% more policeMore free universal health care for everybody too so mental health issues get treatment.
- alki_2008 November 1, 2022 (10:43 pm)
  
  Free universal health care isn’t going to fix mental health issues. A big problem with mental illness is the reluctance of people to pursue treatment, their inability (or refusal) to acknowledge that they have a problem that needs treatment, and the stigma that’s associated with getting treatment by friends/family/society. To think that free health care is all that’s needed is very short-sighted. It’s a much bigger problem than just money.
  - håkon November 2, 2022 (12:32 am)
    
    I think universal health care also includes hospitalization and only release if patient is not a public danger anymore. Seems to work in Sweden but then again we don’t have the gun issue like in the US.

Alki Resident November 1, 2022 (2:16 pm)

While I am not a crime scene expert not sure why they do not rinse the blood away or pick up the gloves they used. It gave the news stations a nice spot to set up today and cover this mess. #goodlord clean the scene! Hope they catch these people. Pray the two shot heal up physically and emotionally.

Lp November 1, 2022 (4:42 pm)

First responders are trying to get the victims transported as quickly as possible. They don’t take the time to pick up their discarded gloves. Nor do they have a moment to stop and consider, “Now.. how can I tidy up this crime scene??” 🙄
- WSB November 1, 2022 (5:56 pm)
  
  They do later call for SFD to do a “washdown,” and I did hear that dispatch.

ALki DeadEnder November 1, 2022 (3:10 pm)

I heard the sirens last night, not the shots. We live up the hill and are about 1/2 mile as a bird flies. The phrase ‘shot in the rump’ reminds me of the 80’s in Washington D.C. where a bunch of thug wannabees with enough money to buy a firearm but NO skill, training or respect for them would point the thing around a building corner and unload. Young up and comers afraid of the weapon, shooting wildly. Mostly those with handguns would point them at the ground and ricochet shots mostly hit people below the waste. They probably can’t help but brag about it. I hope they get caught, prosecuted to the fullest extent…, and serve as a deterrent to any young up and comers considering this as a sinecure of adulthood. I hope the injured have a fast and complication-less recovery and get back in the saddle again, soon. Sorry for the pun, it wasn’t intended.

marcus November 1, 2022 (3:22 pm)

It is nice having Derek around as he posted 6 times out of 128 posts. That is a 4.7% participation and greater than anyone else. He every once in awhile he has some good points, however for the most part he seems to just want to take the extreme opposite tending on the nonsensical just to create dialogue. And it is that dialogue which creates so many responses which brings it all back to a sensibility.

Alki beach Dad November 1, 2022 (3:39 pm)

It’s just sad that this is happening here. That could have been anyone of us or our kids.

Balderdash November 1, 2022 (5:16 pm)

West Seattle is kind of a zoo these days. In so many crime ways. Invading your property is annoying, burglaries are dangerous, cat stealing , (eh you could get shot), and armed thugs can be fatal.But of course, we have the apologists for these creeps. They are downtrodden or need bread for the kids or whatever. If they need services, it’s not like it’s invisible to them on how to get services from this city Look at the freakin’ budget of money for services.But they do the crime?Apprehend, charge and jail to cool them off, don’t walk them the next day. How complicated is this?… and no this isn’t some imagination that crime is happening. And thank you WSB for reporting

Real November 1, 2022 (9:21 pm)

Actually a lot of times it is..that’s exactly how fear works..that’s why some of my own (new and scared)neighbors waste their time spying on me as I walk my dog and pick up their kids trash…some of us need to grow some nuts and learn how to trust again too.

Rocky Bullwinkle November 1, 2022 (5:36 pm)

Aside from having Dirty Harry and Charles Bronson patrolling Alki…we need more police, CCTV with license plate recognition, even more police, and more CCTV.

Cranky November 1, 2022 (6:53 pm)

Some posters don’t like KOMO for reporting crimes. I’d rather have more reporting than less. BTW, King and KIRO also reported on this shooting so I’m not quite sure why KOMO gets singled out. They actually just give the facts from the police and do an accurate job of it. They aren’t making up stories so settle down.

shotinthefoot November 2, 2022 (9:01 am)

@cranky: people don’t like KOMO because they’re owned by Sinclair. Sinclair is a right wing organization, designed to rile up the ignorant base with their pearl clutching “seattle is dying” type reporting, whether it is about crime or the homeless. Sinclair is manipulating the narrative, and intelliegent people see that – that’s why KOMO is singled out among all of our other reputable news sources. See also: mynorthewest.com.
- WestSeattleBadTakes November 2, 2022 (9:51 am)
  
  Most of the comments here show that it works extremely well. Meanwhile, the rest of us research, learn, and try to find ways to convince the reactionaries that they’ve got it wrong.
  
  It is so tiring and at this point, between the lack of education and force of the internet it feels impossible. It’s only going to get worse from here. Our neighbors are walking into fascism with credulity.
  - Balderdash November 2, 2022 (2:19 pm)
    
    Gee, that sure took a left turn in a hurry. Fascism because we are concerned about safety and crime.? If you think this is all stirred up fear to feed some narrative, you couldn’t be more wrong. It’s wise to be concerned about thugs who feel like they can start pumping bullets with impunity. And it’s reasonable to want to be aware of what is going on with all types of crime. Wanting to apprehend these jerks and lock them up for awhile is understandable. Or maybe you choose to ignore the criminal element that seems to flourish here these days. If all you can think of is that all these instances of armed assaults, robberies and gun play are something dreamed up to encourage fear….. then really, you are the one that is dreaming
    - WestSeattleBadTakes November 2, 2022 (6:21 pm)
      
      What part of “you’ve got it wrong” is so hard to understand?
- Audifans November 2, 2022 (10:09 am)
  
  Yeah, I keep hearing all this noise in the background about disliking KOMO. But if you actually look at their crime reporting, it’s straightforward, here is what happened, according to the police and a to the point news story about an assault, a rape, etc. They are a reputable news source, even though you think otherwise. I rather like that they pick up on stories that I don’t see covered by other media. Gunpoint rape just recently. Be so kind as to tell me what you object to about this story? ….https://komonews.com/news/local/2-men-accused-of-breaking-into-kirkland-home-sexually-assaulting-woman-holding-at-gunpoint-face-charges-king-county-jail-university-district-seattle#
  - shotinthefoot November 2, 2022 (2:51 pm)
    
    @audifans, no one is saying that everything KOMO puts out is blatant fearmongering – they are still a news source, and report on news items accordingly. But you can surely tell the difference between straight reporting and the manipulative bias reporting which Sinclair pushes? I know I can.
    - Audifans November 2, 2022 (4:59 pm)
      
      I appreciate you responding and I certainly keep hearing this commentary about manipulation. So I’m curious where it comes in. I really don’t plow thru everything on KOMO so maybe I’m missing something. I’m a crime bug (my dad was a trial lawyer so I am fascinated with what happens from start to finish with the cops, charges, judges, etc.. )..Mostly as DA, Prosecuting Attorney he was until he went over to civil courts (a couple of too many characters saying “I gonna get you when I get out”. Nothing ever came of it.So I really only read what KOMO gives in their crime reporting and that’s it. Here is a recent armed rape story. Where is the manipulation here. I am keeping an open mind to what you are saying, but I don’t see the manipulation issue in print. Three examples to look at. Where is it. Like I said, I just read the articles presented about the event that took place. ..https://komonews.com/news/local/2-men-accused-of-breaking-into-kirkland-home-sexually-assaulting-woman-holding-at-gunpoint-face-charges-king-county-jail-university-district-seattle#…or here….https://komonews.com/news/nation-world/arrest-made-in-cold-case-of-woman-found-raped-murdered-nearly-42-years-ago-las-vegas-metropolitan-police-department-nevada-paul-nuttall-sandra-difelice-homicide-killed-sexual-assault-deadly-weapon#…. or here… https://komonews.com/news/local/murder-suspect-released-from-jail-days-before-he-allegedly-stabbed-killed-2-people-seattle-georgetown-king-county-prosecutors-pike-place-market-bacco-cafe-apartment-john-marcel-williams#
- Cranky November 2, 2022 (10:21 am)
  
  you just don’t like the right side of the aisle in a news organization. As opposed to the left side of the aisle in other news organizations. Media bias is abundant on both sides. It’s the reality of the world. Social media platforms are media friendly to the other side, so it’s the way things are. I wouldn’t get upset about it.