WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Gunfire investigation in Admiral, possibly linked to car prowls

5:04 AM: Just got a call from someone who says there’s someone driving around Admiral shooting at vehicles. Their pickup truck has bullet damage, near 44th/Stevens, and they’ve heard of more than half a dozen others. We’ll be following up.

10:18 AM: Added a photo from the original caller, showing bullet holes in their truck. Other reports of bullet damage – and hearing the gunfire – are in comments below; the police-call log has reports of damage from locations including the 4500 block of 47th SW, the 3800 block of 51st SW, and the 4400 block of 48th SW. We have a message out to SPD to see if they have an overview summary available.

ADDED 2:40 PM: Here’s the information police provided – suggesting that the gunfire might be linked to car prowls:
*3:40 am, the original call was for shots heard near the PCC parking lot – that’s where officers found the shot-up pickup truck with “two bullet holes on the left side of the windshield (and) multiple bullet holes on the driver side window and door of the vehicle. … On further inspection of the damages spent bullet casings were found near and around the pickup truck. Bullets recovered from the scene were submitted for evidence. … A witness from a nearby residence stated that they observed two individuals come out of a vehicle. The two suspects were wearing black hoodies and were facing east in front of the truck. The description of the vehicle was a dark sedan, and a Lyft sign on the back of the vehicle. (The witness) believes that the vehicle sped off east on Stevens onto California Av Sw.
While investigating this incident, additional reports of shots being fired in the near area started to come out. Officers then directed themselves to those locations where additional damages to other vehicles were found.”

Another officer, while responding to a shots-heard report, “noticed one vehicle parked at 50 AV SW / SW Spokane ST, with its rear (drivers) door open. The vehicle … appeared to have been gone through. The second vehicle was parked at XXXX 48 AV SW, with a WA plate … This vehicle had its driver’s side window busted out and the vehicle appeared to have been gone through.” That officer then went to a shooting scene in the 3600 block of 50th SW to assist in collecting casings.

Yet another officer talked to “the registered owners of three victim vehicles, all of which appeared to have been prowled during the incident” on 51st SW. One person who heard four “loud bangs” saw an unfamiliar vehicle and a person outside it who got into a passenger seat before the vehicle left. Officers found smashed windows on three cars. The only item missing – that officers were told about – was a pair of headphones.

48 Replies to "WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Gunfire investigation in Admiral, possibly linked to car prowls"

  • Robert November 17, 2024 (5:21 am)

    I woke a few minutes before 3 AM and heard what sounded like four gun shots followed by sirens about 5 minutes later. I live near 44th and Genesee.

  • Morgan November 17, 2024 (5:37 am)

    Did anyone call police? Terrifying situation 

    • Neighbor November 17, 2024 (8:40 am)

      Heard the gun shots before 3am and then 5-10 min later sirens. When police got to Genesee they turned them off but kept the white lights on as they drove around. 

  • brandusa bularca November 17, 2024 (6:14 am)

    Yes, my car was hit, several bullets in the body and the glass is broken.  I’m on 51st Ave SW near Schmitz school.  Called police, they were puzzled knowing about all the incidents. I am hoping this is not a new era of violence we’re entering in, past the elections.  

    • BB November 17, 2024 (11:04 am)

      Our car was hit also on 47th between Hinds and Hanford. What a mess. 

  • AdmiralResident November 17, 2024 (6:18 am)

    I heard a shot at 3:30, they drove north a couple blocks. Fired again, and then were a couple blocks further north. Heard this right around 46th/Stevens. 

  • AdmiralDad November 17, 2024 (6:49 am)

    Also heard 6 gunshots at 3:35AM in the alley between Stephens and Lander…. Called police, but have not been updated.

  • Eric 43 November 17, 2024 (7:05 am)

    I live on 46th and Stevens I heard two gunshots a minute apart and then 2 minutes later heard three more back-to-back five total at 3:30-3:40 and then saw one cop at the corner of 46th and Stevens from my backyard for 2 minutes then took off  didn’t hear any sirens neighbor’s car must have been hit

  • Eddie November 17, 2024 (7:10 am)

    Counted what sounded like 10 shots just before 3am. Near 47th and Oregon. Listened hard for car sounds, yelling or sirens. Heard none.

  • Terri November 17, 2024 (7:33 am)

    I also heard 4 or 5 shots just before 3 am near 49th and Genesee.

  • Admiral Rez November 17, 2024 (7:37 am)

    The shots woke us up (49th/near Hinds and Hanford). Almost sounded like two distinct shot sounds. We had assumed it was people shooting at each other. 

  • Admiral Citizen November 17, 2024 (8:25 am)

    We heard gunshots at 3:40am on 45th and Stevens. 

  • Ryan Werth November 17, 2024 (8:40 am)

    Heard shots right before 3am at 47th and Oregon

  • Margaret Bragg November 17, 2024 (10:25 am)

    Our car window was smashed, no bullet holes. 52nd & Dakota

  • Schmitz Park Neighbor November 17, 2024 (10:37 am)

    There was a lot of wind last night, so I was awake around 3 am and heard a total of 5 gunshots (near Admiral and Hanford)

  • Karen B November 17, 2024 (10:49 am)

    I was awakened by a single gunshot at 5:25 this morning. It may not be related to these earlier ones, because of the time and distance. I’m in the 5000-block of 36th – nearest cross-street is Dawson.  Best guess is that it originated north of here. 

  • Wayne Machmiller November 17, 2024 (11:21 am)

    The Police are looking for any surveillance best around that time and area. My neighbor witness a dark colored sedan with light colored interior. Possible 4 suspects. Thanks!

  • Derek November 17, 2024 (11:23 am)

    Gun control now. Stop the BS, it’s time. Take away the deadly toys.

    • Julian November 17, 2024 (1:44 pm)

      One, guns aren’t toys, Derek. Two, “Gun Control” is vague. Be specific in the policy you want. I’ll be shocked if the perps are legal owners in the first place. Regardless, knowing how they obtained the firearms in the first place is necessary before implementing laws to deter the behavior.

    • Fitness Dude November 17, 2024 (3:34 pm)

      Derek, this state now has some of the strictest gun control in the nation yet gun-related crime has soared and it’s worse. The voters spoke loudly last week and elected a pro-gun President who is an NRA member and a Republican Congress who will be tougher on violent criminals.

      • Neighbor November 19, 2024 (4:40 am)

        Sorry, but open carry is not “some of the strictest on the nation”.

  • Jennifer Geer November 17, 2024 (11:35 am)

    I heard 7 shots total at 330am. We are on 50th in between Spokane & Charlestown right by Schmitz Park. Then noticed flat tire today. Hope they are not related. 

  • Genesee Hill Resident November 17, 2024 (1:04 pm)

    We sent video to police. Red 4-door sedan.

  • Ant November 17, 2024 (1:39 pm)

    My wife woke up around 330-4, wasn’t sure what woke her. I got up and walked around outside my house and her car door was open (unlocked), two of my neighbors had their windows broken as well. Nothing was stolen from anyone as far as we can tell. We are near Schmitz & Charleston. Neighbor submitted ring footage to police but ours didn’t catch anything. 

  • Truck Owners November 17, 2024 (4:55 pm)

    I was the original caller to WSB and sent the pic of our truck. I happened to be by the window in our apartment above the PCC parking lot when I heard the first shot. Then I saw the muzzle flashes and got away from the window as I was very visible. My partner called it in within moments, and the police were on the scene in under three minutes, we did not hear sirens. They shot our truck at such close range that we didn’t realize that’s what they were shooting at until police arrived and we went down to speak with them. Other neighbors who showed up to give accounts called immediately as well – so yes, police were called. Just want to clarify that police response time to active gunfire was very fast and they likely didn’t use sirens because the streets were dead and they were nearby. Sirens could also alert perps to police location. Police took it very seriously. I can see some comments alluding that the police weren’t responding – but that simply wasn’t the case. We were made aware that other vehicles were being hit by the police while on the scene. We should always remain critical of our police force, but we should refrain from spreading misinformation, it’s not helpful. 

    • WSB November 17, 2024 (6:31 pm)

      Thanks again for the tip. Add-on note: Sirens are far more often used by SFD than SPD – when you hear a siren, 90 percent of the time it’s a medic or fire call.

      • Eddie November 17, 2024 (8:09 pm)

        I’ve often thought that AMR ambulances are the most frequent sirens i hear in West Seattle.

        • WSB November 17, 2024 (8:27 pm)

          They might be a close second but they’re not deployed as many times a day as SFD, which almost never leaves the barn without lights and sirens…

      • Truck Owners November 17, 2024 (8:40 pm)

        Makes perfect sense to me, thank you for that clarification! It didn’t shock me at all to not hear sirens.I see there was further discussion about a “lag” in police response time since my prior comment. Sigh. 

    • Genesee Hill Resident November 18, 2024 (3:44 pm)

      Did you by chance catch the color and make/model of the car that damaged yours? Was it a red sedan?

  • ConcernedWSParent November 17, 2024 (4:55 pm)

    How is it that these criminals were firing off shots for what seems to be over 40 minutes in our neighborhood and police response couldn’t track them down or stop the madness?!! West Seattle is feeling more and more unsafe by the week. This has to stop!

    • AMD November 17, 2024 (7:20 pm)

      Remember when various people called 911 over and over for 30 minutes to report a drunk driver who was hitting cars all along 35th, before going the wrong way on the West Seattle Bridge and killing two teenagers?  The police’s response time is not good, and has never been that great in the 20+ years I’ve lived here.  Maybe it feels less safe to you this week, but it’s not new.

      • Truck Owners November 17, 2024 (8:44 pm)

        As the owner of the truck and original person who called it in to WSB – please stop. I am highly vocal about the issues with SPD and Policing in general – but they were here in under three minutes from the shots fired. I don’t know what better of a response time they possibly could have had. Let’s please focus our energy on when they do get it wrong, not make things up about situations we weren’t present for. 

  • Tyne November 17, 2024 (6:07 pm)

    I’m so confused. Car prowlers were using gunfire as part of their car prowling scheme?

    • WSB November 17, 2024 (6:28 pm)

      Don’t know that for sure but the two crimes seemed to be occurring concurrently…

    • Truck Owners November 17, 2024 (8:48 pm)

      We were not aware last night that they were prowling, just that our truck and other vehicles had been shot. I also find it confusing. We haven’t received any word from police but I’ll update in the comments if we do. 

  • JAH November 17, 2024 (6:36 pm)

    You know what I think it is? … A lot of people move to West Seattle with a fantasy in their mind. From my perspective, West Seattle is one of the greatest places to live. And there is a reason people in other parts of the city don’t mess with you if you’re from West Seattle. But let’s keep it real, this place is great, but maybe a lot of you need to toughen up a little. 

    • WS98 November 17, 2024 (8:51 pm)

      @JAH, your comment is absolutely ridiculous. No one needs to ‘toughen up a little’ over gun violence, ever. Nor should anyone be expected to shrug shoulders over this and accept it as the new ‘normal’.  

    • Truck Owners November 17, 2024 (9:05 pm)

      Care to elaborate on that? Whoever these people were, they shot up a truck at point blank range for seemingly no reason, they didn’t attempt to break into the one in the image. This is a neighborhood full of children, and the location is less than a block from both a high school and elementary school. We were cracking jokes with the police officers and one another minutes after this happened. If it had just been our truck, I wouldn’t have even called it in to WSB. We were told multiple cars were shot, so it seemed like a community issue, so I called it into the community forum. Property damage is a cost of living in a city. We groaned because it’s just one more thing to manage in our busy lives – but we’ll manage. It’s not a big deal. I am from a far “harder” city a continent away and this didn’t phase me in the slightest – but it is important for people to know what’s happening. They did this dumb shit at 3:30 am – they obviously weren’t looking to hurt anyone, but they could have, or themselves. That doesn’t make them tough or cool, that makes them f-cking morons. When using guns improperly, vandalism can quickly turn into manslaughter or murder charges. I’ve had a lot of people say “thank god you weren’t in the truck!” And my response has been “they wouldn’t have shot at the truck if we were.” And I fully believe that. I don’t have to clutch my pearls and feel personally victimized to know that what these idiots are doing is a problem. We got the short stick this time, and it happens. 

      • WSB November 17, 2024 (9:58 pm)

        We encourage everyone, please DO let us know even if it’s “only” one vehicle. It gets harder and harder to find out what’s going on just from scanner listening or other online logs – some stuff never goes out on the radio, some does but not the address, etc. YOU letting us know what’s happening is the best way to ensure the rest of the community is aware (and to see if it happened anywhere else) – TR

      • Mike November 18, 2024 (6:41 am)

        Sorry your vehicle was shot up, glad nobody was physically hurt.  However, criminals like this aren’t looking to see if people are going to be shot.  If you were in the vehicle, they’d still shoot it and likely you as well.  These aren’t hillbillies in the backwoods blasting road signs with bird shot.

        • Truck Owners November 18, 2024 (9:16 am)

          Mike, they went on a shooting spree in the dead of night and very much avoided people. They hit at least half a dozen cars and zero people. I promise you as they made their way from Genessee all the way to North Admiral they saw *someone* in a car during that time and they did not shoot. It is only a matter of time until they do – which is why they must be apprehended- but it’s pretty clear that isn’t their intention. It isn’t for most property crimes. Most criminals don’t set out looking to hurt people. That doesn’t excuse their actions, it just isn’t a worthwhile endeavor to paint a picture that isn’t true. 

  • Carl November 17, 2024 (7:23 pm)

    On our block (51st Ave SW; between Andover and Charleston. There was the red sedan.  They rolled through about 3:20am.  At least three individuals.  Broke one window on an SUV and2 on a truck.  Looked like they used one of those emergency window breaking tools.  As they headed north on 51st, a few got out of the car and looked inside vehicles with flashlights.  Another truck was unlocked and they search that.  They tried another SUV and set off the alarm.  They remained calm and moved without hurry.  They then rolled up a little further and shined a flashlight in my truck and the car across the street.  Then then sped off and turned west on Charleston. 

  • GeneseeHill November 17, 2024 (8:28 pm)

    @WSB- Any idea of the scale of this and number of cars impacted? On our block alone 3 cars windows were broken out at 3:20am. 

    • WSB November 17, 2024 (8:54 pm)

      The info I added from police is all I have – it was narrative from several officers’ statements – they haven’t done an overall summary; maybe by tomorrow. (I was actually lucky to get this much followup info – the media unit doesn’t always have someone answering inquiries on weekends, except for giant incidents, though this was big despite being non-injury.)

  • Karen B November 17, 2024 (8:57 pm)

    JAH, Please consider how this comment by you might be interpreted by those of us who aren’t you! I want to remind YOU that not everyone’s definition of “keep it real” and your remark that “a lot of you need to toughen up a little” varies from person to person. And, it angers me. Maybe before you comment next time, consider how you would respond if you were more mature, maybe had kids who might be terrified by these things, or were physically not up for being shot at or participating in some physical alternation. Sounds like “bar talk” bravado to me. How would you “toughen up a little” if you had lived here and were active in this community, and watching crime spike, worried about hearing gunshots in the neighborhood?

  • Neighbor November 18, 2024 (6:30 am)

    There were 2-3 cars hit on Hanford and Hines closer to 38th last weekend as well. Saw three back windshields smashed.

  • Pinto November 18, 2024 (7:22 am)

    They also got 46th Ave., Southwest between Hines and Hanford by Madison middle school. Several cars were broken into and belongings were strewn along the sidewalk.

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