WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Gunfire twice in 1 night in 1 neighborhood

8:17 PM: Police are converging on Delridge and Juneau [map] after gunfire was reported, possibly from vehicles. Officers have told dispatch they’re finding casings from two different guns, apparently rifle and handgun. No reports so far of anyone being hit/hurt. Avoid the area.

8:26 PM: An officer has told dispatch that a “black sedan” that was involved was last seen “southbound near 21st/Myrtle.”

(WSB photos)

8:37 PM: This is on Juneau east of Delridge, between the residences on the north side of the street and Boren STEM K-8 on the south side. Adding photos.

Police are going to reopen the street shortly. They tell us no damage, and the vehicle was further described as a “black newer-model Chrysler 300.”

10:33 PM: Though the city doesn’t record traffic cameras, some private entities do, and one of them caught a bit of this incident on the Delridge/Juneau camera, tweeting it here.

11:55 PM: Police checking out another report of gunfire have found “numerous shell casings” in the 5600 block of 26th SW. They suspect it’s related to the earlier gunfire, as they are reporting two types of casings. They’re also finding vehicles with bullet damage. … Officers have told dispatch that multiple vehicles were struck in the driveway of what they’re referring to as a “problem house” in that block, theorizing it might have been the target.

12:01 PM: Officers have also confirmed a nearby house was hit. So far no reports of injuries. … Looking at nearby homes’ security video, they observed a “black sedan” in this incident too.

97 Replies to "WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Gunfire twice in 1 night in 1 neighborhood"

  • Let's all play gunshots or firecrackers? May 17, 2023 (8:23 pm)

    Neighbors from several blocks away heard what sounded like a huge string of firecrackers go off. Like 50 shots. Closer by neighbors have been watching suspicious activity all day, one neighbor was on the phone with non emergency at the time shots went off. 

    • Farrah May 17, 2023 (8:51 pm)

      We’re up the hill on the other side of the green space and that’s what we thought it was. This is far more terrifying. There’s a school there and my son’s bus stop is right there. 

  • WTF May 17, 2023 (8:28 pm)

    So Bruce. When are you actually going to DO SOMETHING?  Only when one of your three children are hurt or killed?  When? Where have you been? People are being shot, many dying, all of this city and yet here you are, silent. We want and deserve to hear from you. 

    • East Coast Cynic May 17, 2023 (8:54 pm)

      Bruce has a gated home in South Seattle and, from what I’ve heard, a townhouse on the Eastside.  The local villains will never touch his children. However, hiring more cops to patrol to stop or contain the miscreants has been a struggle.

      • momosmom May 18, 2023 (6:54 am)

        WTF/EastCoast- shame on you for even thinking or mention Mayor Harrell’s children even only in vain. Never “wish” or think this on anyones children.@B- And how do you know that the Mayor is not doing something about these shootings, are you hurt because he didn’t send you his memo???

    • B May 17, 2023 (9:38 pm)

      EXACTLY.  He does not give a f*%$# about West Seattle etc.  … or historic  significance of symbolic cherry trees and cultural neighborhoods…I take the silence as being  complacent. What kind of ‘mayor’ ignores open fire in daylight at schools and parks. What a failure .

    • Sadtohear May 17, 2023 (10:08 pm)

      Look, I’m not a fan of any Mayor from my opposing side but I do know our newest mayor takes crime (and teaching of crime to those underfunded), seriously. He has been seen on our own West Seattle streets, early AM, before any of the rest of us set our alarms for. He continues to meet with law enforcement so he can best understand and guide, according to our community needs. I do not know this because I read or listen to media…I know this because I care about my community and I call into police staffed calls quarterly, to understand the risk all of those honored with serving, face each and every day to protect US. The Mayor is not our problem, the city council is not our biggest problem (close second though maybe), the problem is Seattle voters who continue to whine and cry, yet not honor justice when we all need it most.

      • Mr Henry May 18, 2023 (8:26 am)

        I agree with you 100%.  Thank you for being “the voice of reason”

      • B May 18, 2023 (10:45 am)

        I have not heard any public statements of leadership from him regarding the shootings of West Seattle this past week – stating his conviction to catching these criminals or to be hard on these kinds of crime. Have you? Mayor’s duties are literally: to oversee public departments which includes police, fire, emergency, medical units etc. The mayor should also be part of town council in a leadership role.

    • D Martin May 18, 2023 (6:00 am)

      He needs a city council to work with him; he can’t do it by himself. Until a more moderate council is elected, it will be a very slow change. We need a city council that wants to run a city; not a bunch of activists. Not that I don’t believe in SOME of the things they stand for, but I care more about roads, bridges, sidewalks, crime, police, small businesses, homeless, and other boring things that are part of running a city.

    • bill May 18, 2023 (7:37 am)

      Tell us what the mayor should do in the face of federal law that has resulted in there being more guns in this country than people. 

      • B May 18, 2023 (10:55 am)

        Well for starters, a mayor could make some public appearances with the  communities that are impacted by open fire shootings, especially the school areas. Secondly, even one statement of leadership and some  condolences are definitely an order. Third,perhaps some transparency of action or plans for these kinds of crimes. Low expectations get you more of the same and not demanding respect doesn’t make people treat the neighborhoods with more respect.

        • Canton May 18, 2023 (11:02 pm)

          Guess you expect our mayor to be omniscient? Fire up the bat signal, and hope a superhero intervenes? Any response would be reactional from all regards. 

    • KT May 18, 2023 (8:24 am)

      Nothing can be done about fun violence in this country as long as the NRA is funding half of congress.Gun violence is the new American norm sadly.

    • susie May 18, 2023 (4:13 pm)

      For all of you complaining about the Mayor not doing anything…you know he’s not only the Mayor of West Seattle! I’m sure the crime in WS is on his plate every single night. We all need to help and not just complain here on the blog.

  • Sage K. May 17, 2023 (8:29 pm)

    A vehicle was involved. I saw the shooting. An individual vs a car. The car was red, sporty, and a sedan/coup. Took off Southbound.Happened on the east side of Delridge / Jueanu. Hopefully a camera picked something up. Can’t remember if there is a traffic cam there. 

    • Longfellow May 17, 2023 (9:14 pm)

      There is a traffic cam at that intersection. Had just stepped in my apartment when bullets went flying. At least 30 shots but after cops came and put out placards where casings were there was far more than thirty casings. Green house on corner got completely sprayed along with cars in front. Just thanking god all the kids had just went inside. This was too close.

      • Sage K. May 17, 2023 (11:50 pm)

        I was worried about that house and hoped no one was hurt. I definitely heard at least 30. Was hoping that there was a cam or others that would have seen more. At 11:45pm, I just heard another barrage of gunfire. Is there a turf war going on? 

        • Katrina May 18, 2023 (8:29 am)

          Yes, we live west of Delridge on Brandon. Were told by police who came out to investigate some tagging on our block that since that big bust (I think fentanyl?) last fall that took down folks from two (maybe more?) problem houses in the area, there has been a turf war going on among local gangs. 

    • Neighbor May 18, 2023 (8:48 am)

      Please report what you saw to police

      • Sage K. May 18, 2023 (10:53 pm)

        I did, when I called 911 during the incident. 

  • Parker May 17, 2023 (8:33 pm)

    Sounded like a fireworks display. So many gunshots in quick succession, followed by a roaring car engine and squealing tires. Pretty sure this same house was targeted in a drive-by on Friday night as well. I didn’t see a WSB post about that when it happened. That night I heard seven shots in a row, all from the same gun, followed by the sound of a car racing off. This time was multiple guns at once, I speculated at the time that it was a firefight.

    I don’t know what house it’s at, I’m assuming it was the same place because of the sound but I (thankfully) had no visibility on what was happening. Terrifying to live so close to this. My kid goes to Louisa Boren and walks to/from school every day. 

  • Heard the shots May 17, 2023 (8:35 pm)

    Funny that the vagabond/houseless man who parked his RV at 26th and Juneau for the longest time happened to be back today right at that intersection, delridge and Juneau, in an RV with other new cars.. Along with two other guys looking to be loading up backpacks earlier today. Disappointed in how the city I have grown up in is changing. First a murder. Then a violent sexual assault and now a shooting right at the intersection of where I planned to send my toddler to daycare and my kid to elementary school next year. Wtf.

    • Buttercup May 17, 2023 (8:52 pm)

      What violent sexual assault are you talking about?

    • Amy May 17, 2023 (9:57 pm)

      100% the unhoused person had zero to do with the shooting.

      • Not Safe in North Delridge May 18, 2023 (6:31 am)

        BS. The cars involved were in and out of this RV all day long. I was on the phone with SPD non-emergency calling in a suspicious vehicle related to the RV when my kids and I had to hit the floor from the sounds of gunshots. Dont comment on what you know nothing about.

        • You're a liar May 18, 2023 (10:13 am)

          Umm that is MY RV NO SHOOTER EVER WENT IN MY RV! I was at WORK with my spouse from 8am yesterday until 9pm… Don’t spread vicious lies I am not trying to cause problems just trying to go to work and live without harassment that’s WHY I’m parked away from everyone else I’m not about that life. I am going to be EXTREMELY PIST if I’m questioned about being involved with that BULLS–T because you want to THINK you KNOW and you’re so so wrong. 

          • Wrong May 18, 2023 (11:36 pm)

            Yeah, no buddy. Don’t be an impersonator.  We all know the RV owner ain’t on WSBlog. Nice try though.

        • Brian May 18, 2023 (1:37 pm)

          The police said it was coming from a “problem house” in the area. So the issue is really that we have some irresponsible homeowners on our hands.

          • Nosey Neighbor May 19, 2023 (12:20 pm)

            The problem people are renters.

    • b May 18, 2023 (9:18 am)

      I’d consider moving if its a feasible option.  Thats my plan.

  • lk May 17, 2023 (8:41 pm)

    SO MANY shots fired– it sounded like gunfire but it just kept going so long I thought I must have been wrong and that it was fireworks of a couple kinds. So disturbing to be wrong and thankful no one appears to be hit given the number of shots I heard.

  • CharlieOne May 17, 2023 (8:58 pm)

    I live about half a mile away. I’ve heard magazine “dumps” before, but never like this one. The first volley was about 30 rounds. High capacity. Then a short silence, followed by about 8 rounds which I suspect was return fire. 

  • m May 17, 2023 (8:58 pm)

    Hearing lots of sirens right now from somewhere north of South Delridge. I’m thinking this is a different incident?

    • WSB May 17, 2023 (9:08 pm)

      A couple SFD calls, aid response and bark fire. Nothing else going on.

  • John G May 17, 2023 (9:42 pm)

    Terrifying! And there was just one down the street in the last few days (I don’t recall when exactly). Is crime going up? Feels like it. Thanks for WSB for keeping us in the loop. 

  • JSM May 17, 2023 (10:04 pm)

    Saw this happen about 100′ in front of us… To be honest, we just drove on home.  the gunfire sounded a little further up towards croft, so I thought the cars were just overreacting. I guess it was closer than i thought. So dumb all around. Kids these days are worse aim than stormtroopers. Sorry i did not take a pic WSBlog, literally, it was right in front of us. :-/ 

    • Neighbor May 18, 2023 (8:36 am)

      Please, everyone who witnessed anything, talk to SPD and report what you saw. 

    • DJW May 18, 2023 (1:34 pm)

      I was one of the cars in front of you who pulled over. Didn’t seem like a good idea to drive past an active gunfire exchange when I was watching a kid on the corner shooting the gun in his hands. Very hard to know what the right thing to do is in a situation like that happening maybe 50 feet away. Seemed like if we pull over for sirens, pulling over for active gunfire is also appropriate. Nowhere I need to go is urgent enough for me to put myself in the path of bullets. 

      • Sage K. May 18, 2023 (10:57 pm)

        Seems like the appropriate thing to do if you pull over is to record video and call the police. Then you can give them the video. So they have more to work with to get these people off the street and out of our neighborhood. At the very least call police and report what you saw. 

  • Rhonda May 17, 2023 (10:07 pm)

    This is MADNESS. Even small rifle bullets and handgun bullets can retain enough energy to go through someone’s head at several hundred yards. EVERY single one of those bullets could’ve killed or badly wounded someone blocks away. Violent criminals are the biggest threat to every Seattle resident at this point but city officials simply sit on their bloody hands.

    • Alki resident May 18, 2023 (8:13 am)

      100% agree! And our SCC rep Lisa Herbold is the head of  “Public Safety” for the SCC. An oxymoron if there ever was one! Thankfully she’s not running again, let’s not vote in more of the same! 

  • Jamie May 17, 2023 (10:49 pm)

    The car in the video is not a Chrysler 300. It looks like a black town car to me 

  • Jamie May 17, 2023 (10:50 pm)

    Here’s a google pic of a black town car

  • 1994 May 17, 2023 (11:06 pm)

    Why? why ? why? behave like this with firearms? If you are angry go home and destroy your own property in your dwelling. Punch a heavy bag. Get your anger out without firearms and without harming other people or their stuff. Better yet, get some anger management help.

  • Longfellow May 17, 2023 (11:49 pm)

    They just double backed and emptied an extended clip

  • Jerry May 17, 2023 (11:51 pm)

    Shots again, same place.  About 25.  Several neighbors called it in.

  • Parker May 17, 2023 (11:53 pm)

    Just got awakened around 11:45pm to another volley of gunshots, same neighborhood. I commented earlier after hearing the first this evening. This time it was not followed by the sound of a roaring engine and squealing tires. Silence after apart from a dog barking. I hear some sirens now but nothing close by.

  • 21st ave sw May 17, 2023 (11:54 pm)

    We just heard a bunch more shots at the same location ~10 minutes ago.

    • WSB May 17, 2023 (11:57 pm)

      I just added that above. Police suspect it’s related.

      • Longfellow May 18, 2023 (12:12 am)

        Definitely related same town car was outside and just stepped back in again had literally just viewed the updated tweet when a bunch more shots let off neighbors are saying it was the same town car 

  • Cooper Bailey May 17, 2023 (11:56 pm)

    I just heard some more shots go off and it sounded in about the same area. What’s going on??

  • Jerry May 18, 2023 (12:09 am)

    Actually not quite same place.  In front of problematic house 5633 26th Ave SW.  Neighbor has video of shooting police there now.

    • Conspicuousminds May 18, 2023 (11:43 pm)

      I love how if you google maps that address…well all the matte painted, no license plate, hydraulic cars are parked out front.  Some things never change.  Seattle uses data to determine where issues are. If you see it, call it in.  Do not wait for gunshots from where you know shots be happenin.

  • Longfellow May 18, 2023 (12:15 am)

    This ish is CRAZY! WTF! 

  • Longfellow May 18, 2023 (12:19 am)

    Why isn’t any of the online scanners working it would be nice to follow how police are following up to this madness

    • Neighbor May 18, 2023 (12:40 am)

      Do you mind sharing where you usually find police scanner?  I searched and found many areas, but not west Seattle 

      • Longfellow May 18, 2023 (2:01 am)

        Broadcastify or komo 4 live police scanner

    • N7OEP May 18, 2023 (7:10 am)

      SPD (and SFD) recently transitioned to the new PSERN digital radio system and the online scanner folks may not have upgraded yet….

  • Sage K. May 18, 2023 (12:32 am)

    This is pretty crazy. I’ve lived here 20 yrs and can’t remember anything like this before.There has been gunfire here and there. But never multiple shootings in the same day in the same area. At least that I remember. Only big thing i remember is a shooting in 2008.

  • Z May 18, 2023 (3:33 am)

     Check out the google streetview for that address. They have alot of cars. Does anyone recall any of them?

  • 22blades May 18, 2023 (6:06 am)

    Great, Right next to a K-8 school.

    • Wtf May 18, 2023 (9:39 am)

      And that “Spanish immersion educational center” at that corner is a daycare center for toddlers and preschoolers with an outside playground.  Absolutely terrifying!

      • D-Ridge May 18, 2023 (10:11 am)

        There are two more daycares just a block north as well, hate to say it but considering relocating our kiddo out of theirs if this stretch continues to see so much gun action (recalling the murder in same area last summer).

      • Laurence May 18, 2023 (10:57 am)

        My daughter goes there and picked her up around 5pm yesterday. On Juneau I saw a black car parked just behind the “new” RV. Some people were there but couldn’t really see more or didn’t really paid attention. That is SO scary. 

  • Not Safe in North Delridge May 18, 2023 (6:53 am)

    Super thanks to Joshua Walker, the real estate agent who owns the problem house on this block and has been made aware of the problems there MULTIPLE times but he’s getting paid so who cares what happens in the neighborhood he doesn’t live in. He actually had the audacity to tell us neighbors that we should offer money to those tenants to move out. 

    • Tired of Delridge May 18, 2023 (7:09 pm)

      Talk to him again; he may be willing to reconsider. I’m a landlord myself;would never rent out to criminals It’s not smart business  

    • Scrappy May 18, 2023 (8:26 pm)

      Not sure how effective this is, but here’s a site to check out.https://www.seattle.gov/cityattorney/about-us/precinct-liaisons/chronic-nuisance-properties

    • Joan LaBriola May 19, 2023 (7:46 am)

      I have never been a fan of civil forfeiture but maybe it’s time to suggest this solution—maybe the landlord/homeowner will clean their act up.

    • Nosey Neighbor May 19, 2023 (12:16 pm)

      Josh bought the house with the tenants in it. They had stopped paying rent on the previous owner who sold just to get out of the situation. Seattle law makes it very difficult to evict- these tenants are exceptionally well protected. Dunno if they are currently paying rent or not, but if Josh is saying “pay them to leave” then maybe not.

  • Jl May 18, 2023 (7:40 am)

    Alarming senseless horrifying

    • flimflam May 18, 2023 (9:35 am)

      An excellent summary.

  • Delridge Neighbor May 18, 2023 (7:46 am)

    This happened in front of my house last night. Sounded like a long burst of fireworks, then another kind of shots being fired for a long time. We dove from the couch onto the floor out of fear. The shooting went on for awhile. The cops came and shut the street down and said it was a “slow rolling gun battle” from Delridge to Juneau and up Croft and they found at least 30 casings. Close to midnight I woke up again to hearing a stream of gunfire, this time a little bit further away. Last Thursday we heard gun fire three senate times in one night. Friday someone got their house shot into, and recently they found a guy dead in the street from a gunshot. We just move here a year ago and within the first few weeks I woke up in the night to a gunshot and a man’s scream. That was the incident that happened a few blocks further down on Juneau. I’m feeling more than a little freaked out by the consistency of incidents this week that there is some kind of ongoing conflict between people and that these are not singular incidences. Last night’s first incident was directly in front of the STEM in broad daylight. And as a mother of a ten year old, I’m feeling stressed. 

    • D-Ridge May 18, 2023 (10:14 am)

      So sorry this is happening to you as a new resident! We share the stress as well with kids attending daycare nearby. I’m curious, how quickly did cops show up? Wondering how the same car can show up twice in quick succession on an almost dead end and get away without issue.

      • Delridge Neighbor May 18, 2023 (2:47 pm)

        Yeah, I imagine many parents might. There are kids younger than mine that often play in the yard right by the corner where this happened. And the preschool is kitty-corner from STEM school, so lots of kids. Luckily mine was at her dad’s. I’d say the police responded pretty promptly and seemed to take it seriously. There were at least 8 officers and they stayed awhile collecting the casings and talking to witnesses. We checked our camera but it didn’t capture anything on the street. The second incident was almost four hours later about four blocks away. But still pretty audacious, I agree. 

      • Not Safe in North Delridge May 18, 2023 (3:44 pm)

        I happened to be on the phone with non-emergency SPD when the first shooting happened. I was calling in a suspicious vehicle that was parked near the Longfellow creek apartments.  So they came pretty fast, five minutes maybe.

  • The Earl May 18, 2023 (8:04 am)

    a subculture of gun violence.  two shooting in one evening. another neighbor reported finding shell casings a week or so back on croft place. other shots reported  recently at the 5000 block of delridge.

  • Let's all play gunshots or firecrackers? May 18, 2023 (8:10 am)

    We would like a big story on the slumlord who owns the problem house and continues to allow the tenants who have brought so many problems to our neighborhood. 

  • ltfd May 18, 2023 (8:39 am)

    Good thing Seattle does not allow traffic camera footage to be utilized in criminal investigations. 

  • Alki Jack May 18, 2023 (9:36 am)

    The vehicle that was pictured is a 1990’s Lincoln Town Car. 

  • Jerry May 18, 2023 (10:24 am)

    A lot of this is related to a problematic house (drug dealing, etc) at 5633 26th Ave SW.  It’s a rental and the “slum lord” is Joshua Walker of Joshua Walker Real estate 425 208-1789.   He refuses to evict them.  There are a bunch of cars parked out front and they all got shot up last night (along with some other neighbor’s cars) likely in retaliation for the earlier shooting at Delridge and Juneau.

  • Alki Jack May 18, 2023 (10:37 am)

    After a closer look at the grill, it is a 1998 or later Lincoln Town Car. Not a ton of them driving around. Hopefully they had the correct license plates on the vehicle.

  • Delridge fam May 18, 2023 (3:34 pm)

    Any updates from law enforcement or elected officials? Doesn’t seem like local news picked it up. 

    • WSB May 18, 2023 (4:12 pm)

      We are your “local news.” That aside, if you mean regional outlets such as TV, they have 22 counties to cover and in most cases, shooting without injury isn’t going to meet the coverage bar – there are incidents around the city pretty much every day. (This morning, for example, at Pine/Belmont on Capitol Hill.) That aside, no updates from SPD, no public statements from elected officials. I’m thinking of inquiring with our six City Council candidates, though.

      • WS Mother May 18, 2023 (5:05 pm)

        Thank you @WSB, for being our local news.And to everyone else: How do we all get out of the comments section and actually get action and change from our local officials? Does the community coming out to rally, protest and march make a difference? Something’s got to give, right?! (Although from the national news, +200 mass shootings this year, you’d think otherwise…)

  • Negbor May 18, 2023 (9:28 pm)

    Here’s the other car I saw it scream down 21st after the shooting. https://www.instagram.com/reel/CsW3kuVPepv/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

    • WSB May 18, 2023 (9:41 pm)

      That clip says something about Tacoma, and the post is timestamped yesterday with bright daylight video…

  • Enginerd May 18, 2023 (9:39 pm)

    Is there any license plate info for the black town car? There is late model town car very much matching  the description parked at a location in West Seattle.

    • Bobloblaw May 18, 2023 (9:50 pm)

      Not sure about a plate, but you should probably call it in to a non emergency line since that car is rare around here. The pic posted above looks like it has bullet holes on the hood and windshield. Do you see any on the one you’re talking about?

  • TM7302 May 18, 2023 (10:38 pm)

    Just to point out the obvious, crimes such as this will keep on happening unless the community (neighbors, parents) where the perpetrators live decide that they have had enough of the shooting and criminality and report them to the police. 

  • The Earl May 19, 2023 (8:09 am)

    the number of homes and vehicles that were hit by gunfire . it’s strange that this didn’t make a big splash on the local news.

Sorry, comment time is over.