WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Bullet holes in walls after someone shoots into home

That’s the video JC sent, showing the aftermath of a Friday night gunfire incident that we didn’t get details about until today. JC and neighbors just moved into new townhomes in the 5000 block of Delridge Way SW a month ago. Here’s what happened:

On Friday 5/12 at 5:40 pm, one of our units was shot at. I believe the police said there were 7 gunshots, and judging by how many walls they went through, I’ve been told it was likely something stronger than a ‘handgun.’ I’ve attached a video showing the bullet holes going through multiple walls. I was home and heard everything. I heard some loud yelling and audible anger and banging around from the person before the gunshots went off. I did not see the shooter.

No one was hit/hurt. Whether related or not, JC says they’ve been having trouble in their alley with an “abandoned RV” and with someone who has followed/harassed a neighbor. (They’ve reported the RV via Find It Fix It.) The gunfire incident number, if you have any information, is 23-129839.

D-Ridge May 15, 2023 (9:48 pm)

Man that’s scary JC, sorry to hear this happened. Have lived on Delridge for 5 years, while there have been some buildings shot in that time they were almost always targeted because of who was living there, not random.

oerthehillz May 15, 2023 (10:03 pm)

This is just awful. So sorry this happened to you, and not even in the home very long!

A. May 15, 2023 (10:08 pm)

Terrifying for sure, glad you’re safe. Likely was a handgun caliber as I don’t see any keyholing as well as larger diameter holes. Handguns, especially 9mm, penetrate more building materials than most realize.

Rhonda May 15, 2023 (11:00 pm)

Non-hollowpoint (regular) handgun bullets can easily penetrate many walls, especially interior walls.

Jay May 16, 2023 (9:12 am)

This is what I’m always trying to tell people who want to use a gun for defense and daydream about being John Wick. In the movies, bullets magically stop when they penetrate or miss a target. In real life, they keep going. They hit bystanders. They go into houses. And even handgun rounds can penetrate the wall of a house.

Overpenetration May 16, 2023 (12:41 pm)

Yes, and counterintuitively, common handgun rounds like 9mm go through more walls than common rifle rounds like 5.56mm. Shotgun will go through the most depending on the load.

Zoe May 16, 2023 (10:26 am)

Glad no one was hurt! By the look of where the bullet holes are it seems very lucky no one was home or in those rooms at the time of the shooting! This could have easily been fatal :( I hope the city or police do something to clean up the area around your new home

Mike May 16, 2023 (10:44 am)

This would be excellent for Active Self Protection to use in their self and home defense training material. A huge part of using a firearm is knowing and being responsible for every shot fired (accidentally or not).Sorry this event impacted so many, but this is exactly the information people need to know about.

Darcy May 16, 2023 (10:31 pm)

The RV was on 25th some months back, and there was violence then (assault, gunfire). Thankfully, a kindly resident on the street, heart swelling with compassion, invited the misunderstood, beleaguered, and undoubtedly strictly law-abiding RV owner to park behind their house. /s This joker has continued to make nothing but trouble ever since and is well known by the police. It’s funny how quickly one’s sympathy for others’ addiction and mental health struggles disappears when there’s bullet holes in your neighbor’s house.

Jennifer May 17, 2023 (8:03 am)

From my limited knowledge and understanding, range bullets, which are cheaper, will continue on their trajectory whereas defense rounds are hollow point and will expand on impact thereby slowing or stopping. I think it is clear that these murderers are not concerned with any unintended death or destruction and will go with the cheapest and most readily available option.

Jethro Marx May 17, 2023 (8:57 am)

“It’s funny how quickly one’s sympathy for others’ addiction and mental health struggles disappears when there’s bullet holes in your neighbor’s house.”

That’s not real sympathy, that’s just having a leaf in the wind for a moral compass. No one wants bullets flying around the neighborhood but turning marginalized groups of people into villains responsible for all our societal ills is not going to solve anything.

Sorry, comment time is over.