WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Gunfire investigation on 35th SW

Thanks for the tips. Police are investigating gunfire around 4:30 pm on 35th SW. They reported finding casings at 35th/Findlay. Nobody is reported injured. The northbound side of 35th was closed for a while as police collected casings but we went through about 20 minutes ago and it was open again, no police left on scene. From archived dispatch audio, and a witness report, this may have involved a person on foot – described as a Black or Hispanic man in his 20s, shirtless, jeans – shooting at a vehicle before then getting into another vehicle himself. Police were sorting out the vehicle descriptions but reported that one vehicle from which shots were fired was described as “a light-colored sedan.” If you have any information, the police incident # is 23-208790.

Doug July 23, 2023 (6:14 pm)

I have to admit I was a bit shocked at the minimalistic response. I estimate at least 15 rounds were fired with bullets whizzing through the trees behind my house. I sat and waited for a rush of sirens… nothing.

m July 23, 2023 (7:35 pm)

Did you call 911?
WSB July 23, 2023 (8:27 pm)

Sirens are far more often SFD than SPD. Since no injuries were reported, SFD was not dispatched.
- Eddie July 24, 2023 (7:12 am)
  
  My observation is that the sirens you hear are most often AMR (ambulance), then SFD (Fire), then SPD (police).
Rhonda July 23, 2023 (8:29 pm)

There may have been a larger response peninsula-wide as SPD units were actively looking for the suspects. Having lots of SPD units respond to the scene does no good when the perpetrators are already somewhere else in West Seattle.

Erin July 23, 2023 (7:34 pm)

They cruised into our neighborhood as well, on Holly St. They came from 35th, stopped between 34th and 32nd, shirtless dude and his pals got out of the car, yelled a bunch and waved the gun around, and then they got back in and took off toward 31st. I’m glad my kids were playing inside this afternoon.

CG July 23, 2023 (7:50 pm)

Was this an altercation between two groups or did it appear to be random violence?
Neighbor July 23, 2023 (7:53 pm)

Did you call the police with a description of the people or vehicles?
CJ July 23, 2023 (8:47 pm)

Erin – Was it the white sedan that you saw on Holly St or a different vehicle? The main shoot out was right in front of my house. My husband gave his account to the police as did a few neighbors.
- Erin July 23, 2023 (11:37 pm)
  
  I didn’t see it all happen, but our neighbors and my husband did. Yes, same light colored sedan, but nobody was close enough to take note of the license plates. My husband said it looked similar to a Chrysler 300, but was some other make/model.

WSL1 July 23, 2023 (8:07 pm)

this was a drive-by/in motion shooting from a vehicle. They traveled north on 35th Ave SW from Juneau. It involved approximately 20 rounds in two grouping of rounds, having a brief pause in between.

Wsea July 23, 2023 (8:27 pm)

Heard the shots as my family was on a walk in the area. The car I believe was a white Chrysler sedan. Called the police to report it.

dzag July 23, 2023 (9:08 pm)

I’m glad everyone is ok, I’m planning to support the council candidates who support law enforcement and consequences. WSB – Thank you so much for the great job on reporting

WSB July 23, 2023 (9:21 pm)

Thanks for the kind words, sorry we were late on this one – we were away from the desk at the time, and while large SFD dispatches lead to alerts we get quickly no matter where we are, police dispatches without SFD (medical) components don’t, so huge thanks to everyone who texted (206-293-6302) and emailed – TR
- Doug July 24, 2023 (10:07 am)
  
  I was starting to doubt that I had even heard what I had heard. I was two blocks away and in my backyard when the shots were fired, and then right at the end of the shooting I heard what sounded a small projectile flying through the trees. That was the most unsettling part.

1994 July 23, 2023 (9:49 pm)

Guns fired every day all over the city like there is no danger and no consequences. These idiots firing guns need a wake up call of some sorts to understand their behavior is NOT acceptable. Unfortunately the only entity that can stop all this shooting are the idiots themselves who are shooting the guns…. but they are too dumb to understand their own dangerous behavior.