WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Gunfire in Arbor Heights

| Arbor Heights | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

12:24 PM: Police are in Arbor Heights investigating a report of gunfire. Dispatch told officers that a 911 caller reported seeing three people “shooting into a pond” near 32nd Place/32nd Avenue SW. Police have taken two possible suspects into custody and reported finding a gun as well as casings. No injuries are reported.

12:35 PM: One suspect was found near 30th/Roxbury. We’ve gone to both scenes but police are still busy talking to people and no additional information is available yet; we’ll be following up later.

4:56 PM: The only additional thing police could tell us when we followed up is that one of the detained teenagers was booked into juvenile detention for investigation of unlawful gun possession.

AH Neighbor June 10, 2024 (12:32 pm)

I heard this, and saw 3 individuals running away down my street right after. Appeared to be teens.

AH witness June 10, 2024 (12:52 pm)

I heard the gunshots as well and called the police. I live on the pond and dropped to the floor.

AH parent June 10, 2024 (1:06 pm)

Good work SPD. Concerning how close this was to, at least two schools, Explorer West and Westside.

rme June 10, 2024 (2:07 pm)

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I’m a Westside parent and got notification of shelter in place… one of the worst emails to get. So glad this resolved without any injuries.
West Seattle Guy June 10, 2024 (2:34 pm)

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Yes, Westside had a shelter in place. We adults have NO idea what we are doing to these poor kids, how scary a world we have created for them. The second amendment was a mistake, just like the 18th.

Rhonda June 10, 2024 (1:16 pm)

What pond is this? We live near Seola Pond which is the only one I’m aware of in the area.

WSB June 10, 2024 (1:40 pm)

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I know Seola Pond is some blocks south of there. This is how it was described by dispatch.
AH Neighbor June 10, 2024 (3:42 pm)

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It was Seola Pond. I live nearby and walked down and talked with the police to give descriptions of the suspects.

lucy June 10, 2024 (1:19 pm)

In the middle of the day? This is getting ridiculous. I hope the kids are found and PROSECUTED.

anonyme June 10, 2024 (3:18 pm)

Whoever allowed these teens access to guns should go to prison in addition to whatever punishment is allowed for them as minors. And if they were firing at (or harmed) birds or other wildlife, there could (should) be additional charges. Gun crimes, like most other crimes in Seattle, are treated far too lightly.

1994 June 10, 2024 (9:33 pm)

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Exactly! With only slaps on the wrists for so much violent teenage misbehavior it will only continue. Consequences need to be a bit more intimidating for teenagers. Teenager’s know exactly what they are doing so the undeveloped brain concerns should not override consequences that might leave an impression on them.

ArborRes June 10, 2024 (9:15 pm)

Thank you to the individual(s) who promptly reported this and props to Seattle police for responding swiftly. We all need to be the eyes and ears of the community. I, too, hope these kids were not shooting at ducks or animals in the pond. Thank goodness no people were injured by this senseless behavior, though being terrified is injury enough. Too bad these kids (assuming they were all juveniles) cannot find other outlets to channel their energy – sports or other activities if these options are supported by area schools. Shooting is (obviously) a cowardly form of channeling adrenaline.

Pond scum June 10, 2024 (9:53 pm)

I heard the shots. They were very slowly spaced out like they were carefully aiming at something. The shots were a few seconds apart. I hope they didn’t kill any birds. It’s a federal felony to inflict cruelty on animals since 2018.

Claudia Williams June 10, 2024 (10:36 pm)

I passed by police with juvenile in custody at 30th/Roxbury. The juvenile looked disturbingly unperturbed.

TQ June 11, 2024 (6:10 am)

At about 12:30-ish yesterday, my husband was working in our shed in the backyard when he noticed two people (teenagers) standing in our backyard also. They had apparently walked down our driveway and thru our carport, and seemed to be surprised to see my husband and that there was no easy way out of the backyard. He confronted them and told them to get off our property, which they did. As they left, they were looking up and down the street as if they were trying to avoid someone/something. He was able to provide me w/ good descriptions: two mid-late teenage black males, one 6.0-6.2 feet tall, the other about 5.10. Tall one had sparse beard/mustache. Both had braided hair. Tall one dressed in gray and black with black backpack, short one same attire, but all in brown. Tried to call the non-emergency line yesterday to report, but was taking too long so was going to try this morning before I knew about all of this happening. We’re on 32nd Ave SW.

Michele June 11, 2024 (6:52 am)

I was walking my 3 dogs by the pond just before having an interaction with the 3 young men. They came from the grassy North field at the church. They looked afraid of the dogs and I smiled and reassured them it was fine although one of the dogs was very weary of them. I was maybe 5 feet away from all 3 in the secluded back alley of the church. They were walking towards the pond and we were walking away (North). Maybe a minute went by before gunfire erupted. My first thought is that they were killing ducks. I could hear them laughing. Disgusting. I turned to look back to see them running from the pond heading West into the neighborhood. This is too close for comfort.

wink&nod June 11, 2024 (9:29 am)

I think that anyone who commits a crime that causes a school to go into lockdown should be charged with assault against every student and member of faculty who has to endure it.

rme June 13, 2024 (12:32 pm)

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I completely agree with this. If there isn’t already, there absolutely should be a separate charge for inducing lockdown.