WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Store workers attacked; trash-can explosion

| Crime | West Seattle news

Both of these incidents happened around midnight and we followed up with police today:

ADMIRAL SAFEWAY ATTACK: Two employees of Admiral Safeway were assaulted by a group of people, and one – a 36-year-old man – was taken to the hospital. Police say the two were attacked when they “interrupted suspects who were trying to push a motorized handicap scooter down an upper-level stairwell.” The attackers left in “multiple vehicles” before officers arrived. If you have any information, call the SPD Violent Crime Tip Line at 206-233-5000 and refer to incident 23-227148.

EXPLOSION: This was reported a few blocks west of The Junction, in the 4400 block of 48th SW. SPD says officers “found evidence of a fireworks explosion” as well as “minor property damage.” A reader says it happened in the alley behind a neighbor’s house: “The explosion put a hole in the bottom of the garbage can and blew the lid into the yard of the neighbor to the South and damaged the house next to the cans.”

Rhonda August 9, 2023 (5:54 pm)

That upper stairwell at the Admiral Safeway is very large and high. It sounds like the attackers were simply trying to commit a brazen act of dangerous vandalism before assaulting the workers. There should be extensive surveillance footage of the attackers.

wsres August 9, 2023 (6:09 pm)

All these explosions, some starting fires this Summer, make it seem like a group of hoodlums got their hands on some M-80s. Terrorizing the neighborhood just makes you a jerk.

Just wondering August 9, 2023 (6:27 pm)

All at Admiral Safeway are great people. Not only did these hoodlums act stupidly but also could have impacted handicapped people. What idiots or as the Irish pronounce it “ijits!”

Ejit August 9, 2023 (9:45 pm)

We would say it as ejit and that’s too mild of a description for people like these who shouldn’t be walking the earth.

anonyme August 10, 2023 (7:22 am)

This is what the lack of fireworks enforcement has led to. In the last few years, it’s been obvious that M-80’s and other fireworks are being rebuilt into bombs. Now fireworks are also being used for arson. Will we ever regain some leadership that believes in the enforcement of laws?

Escondido August 10, 2023 (8:59 am)

As a community my fear is we are becoming immune to this behavior. I was in that Safeway yesterday and watched as a young lady filled her large vinyl tote with goods. I have seen school kids brazenly shoplift expensive plush toys only to see a cashier meet them at the exit telling them to hand over the toys, which they did, without any discernible shame. Time for security guards. I am not feeling too safe there anymore.

HS August 10, 2023 (9:27 am)

Vandalism and assault around midnight at the Admiral Safeway then 9 shots fired not long after around Lincoln Park. My guess is that it’s the same group of people. Let’s hope there’s footage of the assault.

WSB August 10, 2023 (9:46 am)

The Safeway incident was 24 hours earlier.

Alkibean August 10, 2023 (10:10 am)

Regular shopper and I know that stairway (and employees) well. If I caught these hooligans in the act, I would throw them off of it. Perhaps Admiral Safeway needs to consider closing the upper lot late at night. .

Danimal August 11, 2023 (12:40 am)

I’ll join you. Pink Floyd said it best in their song title.

BDR August 12, 2023 (10:32 am)

There should be a video of the people who attacked the Safeway workers. If kids are allowed to do this without and reprocussions, they will only get braver and do more dangerous, harmful things. I hope to see a WSB headline they have been caught and punsihed very soon.

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