WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Gunfire in Westwood (updated)

2:22 AM: SPD sent officers out to look for the source of possible gunfire after numerous 911 calls a short time ago from various areas, and they found it near Westwood Village. They’ve found shell casings – from a rifle – after a man told them someone in a car shot at him at the bus stop in the 2600 block of SW Barton. He apparently was not hurt. He told police the gunfire came from a dark-gray Acura with four people inside, described as Asian, male, late teens to early twenties, in blue clothing. The vehicle was last seen heading eastbound on Barton, which is temporarily closed at the scene while officers collect evidence.

2:49 AM: Officers are reopening the street, and also told dispatch they’ve collected 12 spent rounds and found gunshot damage on the ATI Physical Therapy building (along north side of Barton in WWV).

ADDED FRIDAY: Here’s the SPD summary – adding both that the shell casings were from three different types of guns, and that the reported target was on the shopping center premises when shot at:

At 0200 hours, numerous callers reported hearing shots spanning a large area of SW Pct. Officers conducted an extensive search and located a male at a bus stop in the 2600 block of SW Barton St who stated that he was the target of the shooting. This male made no attempt to call 911 or flag Officers down to report being shot at. This male stated that he had been standing at the bus shelter when a dark gray Acura drove past him. The vehicle was reportedly occupied by 4 A/M wearing blue. The vehicle made a U-turn, and the victim had a feeling he was about to be shot at, so he began to run north into the shopping complex. The suspect vehicle stopped in the roadway, shot at the victim as he ran, did not hit him and fled the area. Officers processed the scene and recovered the following fired cartridge casings: seven .223, three .357 and two 9mm. One building sustained damage from being struck multiple times by gunfire. No other victims were located at this time. No cameras were located that may have captured the incident.

22 Replies to "WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Gunfire in Westwood (updated)"

  • Karen Jones December 20, 2024 (2:29 am)

    Woke both me and my neighbor up. We are on Trenton west of 35th. Sounded like it was right outside Our houses. At least 8-10 rapidly fired shots. 

  • Brand Citizen December 20, 2024 (2:30 am)

    Gunfire was exactly 2am. 5 shots fired.

    • Karen Jones December 20, 2024 (2:41 am)

      Yep, 2 am exactly. I thought I should make note of what time it is when it happened. Definitely more than 5 shots. We are sure of that.

      • WSB December 20, 2024 (2:51 am)

        They found 12 casings, I just noted above.

    • Arbor Heights December 20, 2024 (6:50 am)

      I also woke up at 2am and heard exactly 5 shots. From the reporting it sounds like I was probably awoken by an initial burst, followed by the 5 shots. Maybe return fire? Regardless, took me a while to get back to sleep.

      • Karen Jones December 20, 2024 (6:11 pm)

        Yes it was a burst of quite a few shots, then a rapid succession of shots. 

  • Just me December 20, 2024 (2:32 am)

    Heard sirens heading west on Graham near 46th. Then several minutes later a car came speeding down Graham heading east towards California Ave. Wondering if it was related? 

    • WSB December 20, 2024 (2:38 am)

      That was not related to the gunfire. A suspected drunk driver hit a parked car in the 5900 block of 47th, seemed passed out, then took off again. Police were following him for a while but not pursuing as the only crime they had PC for was hit-run on an unoccupied vehicle. He was last seen heading sb on California “at a high rate of speed” (think I heard him go by HQ) …blue Ford Focus, I think they said.

      • Just me December 20, 2024 (5:44 am)

        Oh ok seemed a little far off the path but happened around the same time. Thank you for the update! 

      • Citizen December 20, 2024 (7:03 am)

        I am confused. He’s a suspected drunk driver, passed out, and they don’t arrest him because all he did was hit some car? Since when is it legal to drive drunk? Does he need to kill someone for the police to have the right to stop him? Why not let him go the wrong way on the bridge and wait? This city is falling apart. Let cops do their job before someone is hurt. Please. 

      • Eric1 December 20, 2024 (7:40 am)

        Interesting that this conversation comes up with idiots firing guns at people.  I consider drunk driving the equivalent of running down the street with a loaded gun that you are pointing at other people.  If getting a potentially drunk person off the street isn’t a reason to pursue and arrest someone, what is?  Sometimes young people die when drunks are allowed to continue driving.  Unfortunately, drunks usually survive.  

        • Lisab December 20, 2024 (10:05 am)

          I’m very surprised they wouldn’t pursue a drunk driver driving at a high rate of speed. Very scary to hear.

        • KM December 20, 2024 (12:21 pm)

          It’s really a bummer our society doesn’t act on the premise that cars can also be weapons. On Barton, less than an hour ago, I saw an adult male driver speed up and charge a pedestrian with his SUV. The pedestrian had to jump out of the way to save his life. I didn’t bother calling the police–they have proven time and time again that car related violence doesn’t matter to them.

          • Citizen Joe December 20, 2024 (4:39 pm)

            I agree. A vehicle should be treated as a weapon in criminal cases.

          • Seattlite December 21, 2024 (9:11 am)

            KM…Common sense people understand that the average car weighs approximately 4,000 pounds; and, if driven recklessly, carelessly, thoughtlessly, can create severe damage to humans and properties.  There are a plethora of reasons why speed limits are posted, caution signs are posted, traffic lights are installed, but the main reason is safety.  Hopefully, Seattle can be the recipient of promises that SPD’s police officer staffing, which is now not fully staffed, will see gains in employing trained police officers.

        • anonyme December 20, 2024 (12:38 pm)

          Eric, I agree completely.  Just because the vehicle that he’d already hit was unoccupied doesn’t mean that the next one won’t be.  Either that, or a pedestrian will be hit.  Using a vehicle in the commission of a crime should be no different than using a gun.

  • Ray December 20, 2024 (2:54 am)

    Heard it at 35th & Roxbury. Very loud. Sounded very close. I know it was at 2 because I called family.  Heard the police too.

  • Grilled Cheese December 20, 2024 (6:09 am)

    It woke me up. We live in Hight Point and I heard bout 10 shots. It sounded like a semi-automtic. Glad no one was hurt. Hopefully they find these people.Idiots.

  • Jim December 20, 2024 (10:03 am)

    Got the sound on our cameras at 2am along with 2 coyotes’ walking down the street in front of our house.

  • Lori December 20, 2024 (2:46 pm)

    Woke me up at 2AM also… we’re in Fauntlee Hills.

  • Desperately Seeking Saka December 20, 2024 (9:33 pm)

    Bullet damage at ATI:

  • 1994 December 20, 2024 (10:42 pm)

    3 different guns???!!! The running guy was very lucky not to catch a bullet! The shooter(s) luckily didn’t have good shooting ability and missed the  running guy! Makes one wonder if the running guy knows the guys in the car and that is why he had a feeling he was going to be shot at? What madness are these guys up to?  Too bad there are no camera images. 

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