WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Gunfire damages home; new info in stolen-van-on-tracks case

| Crime | West Seattle news

Two West Seattle Crime Watch items before we get back to weather coverage:

GUNFIRE DAMAGES HOME: Multiple texters mentioned hearing suspected gunfire in North Delridge around quarter till 5 this morning. Seattle Police confirmed it was gunfire – they found bullet damage to a home in the 5200 block of Delridge Way SW, and “numerous casings” outside. No one was injured. At least one witness told police the shots were fired by someone in a black Honda Civic that then took off southbound.

NEW INFO IN STOLEN-VAN-ON-TRACKS CASE: On Thursday we reported on the previous night’s arrest of a 40-year-old man accused of driving a stolen van, backing into a police car with it while trying to get away from officers in SODO, then abandoning it on railroad tracks in West Seattle. Today we’ve obtained documents from his bail hearing, and learned more about the case. First, the van was stolen in West Seattle, from Sunrise Heights, four weeks ago. Second, while we mentioned he had been in jail six previous times this year, we didn’t have specifics. The hearing documents note that he and another man were arrested four nights earlier – last Saturday – for what was described as a similar incident, involving eluding police. This happened outside West Seattle, on East Marginal Way. However, there’s no booking on the jail roster related to it. At Thursday’s hearing, prosecutors asked for $30,000 bail; a judge set it at $25,000. Because of the holiday, Tuesday is the deadline for rush-filing charges.

oerthehill December 23, 2022 (2:07 pm)

I heard that this morning too. I believe I counted about 12 rapid shots.

enginerd December 23, 2022 (2:32 pm)

I heard these shots at 4:45am… sounded like someone emptied the full clip from a semi auto… I am surprised it was on Delridge since we are on 41st… I knew if was ‘off in the distance’ but assumed is was between us and 35th… not all the way to Delridge… the sound really carried this morning.

wssz December 23, 2022 (4:00 pm)

I’m realizing that I heard them too. I’m located just west of Junction True Value.

Neighbor December 23, 2022 (6:15 pm)

Hey WSB: From an email to our neighborhood contact list, this happened near the home of folks at 5205 25th Ave SW (the shared Nest cam video) which is at the edge of the park. There is an RV parked on 25th just south of that house that has been causing some problems in the last few days.

WSB December 23, 2022 (7:01 pm)

Hi, the police audio mentioned multiple addresses in that block but we don’t report victims’ exact addresses anyway – if the house you mention has video out there somewhere, it hasn’t been sent to us, but thanks. Hopefully it’s been provided to police. – TR
- Neighbor December 23, 2022 (9:05 pm)
  
  Hey WSB- I have the video that shows the vehicle involved, hatchback or small SUV with stuff strapped to top. Not a civic… also the vehicle was traveling north. I attempted to call the non-emergency line to no avail due to short staffing. I submitted the video to SPDs online crime report but not sure if it will ever make it to the right place. Any suggestions on who I can email more directly at SPD with the video?
  - WSB December 23, 2022 (11:08 pm)
    
    I don’t have any way of knowing who’s investigating – but leaving a message on the tip line (206-233-5000) might be worth a try. – TR
  - WestSeattleBadTakes December 24, 2022 (10:27 am)
    
    The location of the shell casings don’t match up with a northbound vehicle (they were found on the west side of Delridge under/near a vehicle), unless someone got out of the car and shot from the southbound side (which is possible at that time in the morning).
    
    Vehicle wise, the police on the scene reported it as a Honda Civic. I saw a car driving south near the C-stop gas station shortly (seconds) after the gunfire. I can only describe that vehicle as a small black sedan. I can’t speak for any vehicles going northbound though.
    - NorthDelridgeNeighbor December 24, 2022 (3:46 pm)
      
      So the address originally provided by SPD was incorrect? They mentioned a few but all on 25th Ave SW. We were concerned it was the RV on 25th as that gentleman has had a rotating slate of guests pull in and out of the park area.
    - WSB December 24, 2022 (4:11 pm)
      
      If you are referencing scanner dispatch, what you’ll hear initially is who called in to say they heard it, not always where they ended up finding evidence (or not). Same goes for Tweets By Beat references.

Josh W December 23, 2022 (9:31 pm)

I heard the shots at 4:45 am. Cali and Charleston. 10-20. Pretty loud. No way that was on Delridge.

WestSeattleBadTakes December 23, 2022 (10:13 pm)

It was right outside my window and I’ve seen the bullet holes and casings. It was Delridge.Maybe something happened elsewhere, but there was most definitely gunfire on Delridge.

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