WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Another gunfire investigation (updated Sunday)

| Crime | High Point | West Seattle news

7:04 PM: For the second time today, police are investigating gunfire in West Seattle. This time it was in an alley near 31st SW and SW Graham [map]. Police have just told dispatch they’ve found “numerous shell casings” after multiple 911 callers reported hearing shots. No indication of injuries so far.

7:20 PM: Officers have told dispatch that a residence in the area has bullet damage to its garage.

7:27 PM: So far, officers just reported, they’ve found “36 9mm casings.”

8:11 PM: SPD has now caught up with what they’re describing as a “victim vehicle” that has multiple bullet holes.

ADDED SUNDAY: Police have released their summary, which includes:

At 1850 hours, officers responded to the 3000 block of SW Graham St to reports of shots fired. Officers arrived and located several shell casings and learned during their investigation an unknown group approached a parked occupied vehicle and shot in its direction. Several vehicles and homes were also struck by gunfire. The victim vehicle and owner fled initially but were contacted by officers and detectives later nearby. No suspects have been identified.

DeeJay January 10, 2025 (7:11 pm)

this is the SAME location, within 100 feet of the previous murder of the teenager a month or so back, and a previous driveby that without death the previous months. SPD reports the suspect vehicle is a Dodge Challenger “Hellcat”

WSB January 10, 2025 (7:15 pm)

So far they are describing that only as a POSSIBLE vehicle seen in the area. Have to be a bit careful with descriptions – the one in the 7-11 gunfire earlier today, for example, evolved about four times from the initial report (which also had the location wrong too) …
Corner January 10, 2025 (8:37 pm)

The people that run in these groups live in the area. Literally I’ve seen 5 incidents where they’ve been involved. The 2 shootings on the house on 29th 1 vehicle shooting across from that house where they reside and the 2 dumped car thefts in the same place.

Jojo January 10, 2025 (7:20 pm)

We’ve seen the red Challenger speeding up and down our street, racing around the roundabouts repeatedly. I do believe it’s associated with the gunfire because he’s always around when it happens.

WSB January 10, 2025 (8:11 pm)

And now that vehicle is described as the VICTIM vehicle, with “multiple bullet hole damage” (SPD has caught up with it).
- WS resident. January 11, 2025 (12:50 pm)
  
  Any more details? Were casings or victims found in the car? Seems like a car matching the description is parked near the intersection now—related? Any responses from Seattle Police community meetings specific to HP, like speed bumps, cameras, ShotSpotter, etc.? Thanks for covering these incidents.
  - WSB January 11, 2025 (1:28 pm)
    
    Generally the briefings are bland but that’s why I say, if you have questions, go and ask, even if it’s not specific to that neighborhood – the precinct itself has community meetings (the “Crime Prevention Council”) every 3 months but it’ll be a while until the next one. For HP community meetings, I don’t know the schedule for the homeowners’ association or Open Space Association or whether they even tackle such topics, but the property managers should certainly know. As for specifics on this incident, I won’t have access to followup info until Monday.
    - HP resident January 13, 2025 (4:18 pm)
      
      The next High Point HOA meeting is tonight at 7pm, FYI. Let’s show up for our community.
    - SHA-CB-HP January 14, 2025 (9:55 am)
      
      There is a monthly community safety meeting hosted in HP by the SHA community builder, next meeting is Feb 13th. Flyers are posted in community and will be posted on the local Fbk group.
    - WSB January 14, 2025 (10:01 am)
      
      We’d be happy to include in our calendar if the notices were sent to us too. We used to routinely cover HP meetings (along with as many other neighborhoods as had open-to-community meetings around West Seattle, the number of which has decreased dramatically).

WSzombie January 10, 2025 (7:31 pm)

I asked this last time and I’m still hoping for an answer. Has there been a confirmed cause to why this 2 square block area sees the majority of the shootings? What the hell is going on there? Drug house? Gang related? Hate crimes? It’s not random. Not when it’s this consistent. And it seems like it won’t end until whoever is the target is no longer there.

HP resident January 14, 2025 (7:23 pm)

Show up at the HOA meetings and you’ll get answers. Yes, they know who the target is and have good theories as to why, no, it’s not SHA related, and yes, the HOA and police aren’t doing much. Show up. Get loud. Go to the community safety meetings, too.

PAG January 10, 2025 (7:39 pm)

Sounded like multiple shooters and one was firing automatic, possibly 9mm submachine gun.

Mad Citizen January 10, 2025 (7:47 pm)

This has to stop. We’re tired of the gun violence in High Point.

Jojo January 10, 2025 (7:57 pm)

Yes. It’s getting earlier and more frequent!
bill January 10, 2025 (9:40 pm)

Mad: Write a letter to the Supreme Court. I am sure you will get results.
- EJ January 10, 2025 (10:27 pm)
  
  …Supreme Court?
  - bill January 11, 2025 (10:00 am)
    
    You know… those nine people who interpreted an 18th-century document intended to guarantee the citizenry’s ability to defend themselves in lieu of a national standing army to mean everyone today gets to own near-military modern weaponry.

36 gunshots at 7pm… January 10, 2025 (8:06 pm)

It’s very concerning that High Point seems to be going in the wrong direction with an increase in gunfire and violence. Such a beautiful neighborhood that our family has lived in for over a decade, yet is trying to leave. 36 gunshots at 7pm is just too much.

A January 10, 2025 (8:12 pm)

While I’m thankful that no one was injured it’s very scary that in one day there were two drive by shootings in our relatively quiet neighborhood.

Also John January 10, 2025 (8:13 pm)

Only 36 casings?….said sarcastically.

West Seattle Mad Sci Guy January 10, 2025 (9:21 pm)

37. (Unexpected ‘Clerks!’ reference you made there…)

36 gunshots at 7pm???! January 10, 2025 (9:13 pm)

I’m over it. High Point is headed in the wrong direction. Having lived here for over a decade, this last year seems to feel more unsafe than ever before. Kids can’t play outside as bullets are being sprayed at all hours and wreaking havoc on this once wonderful neighborhood. What a shame.

WSzombie January 10, 2025 (11:43 pm)

I’ve lived here for about 8 years, and I agree with you. About a year and a half ago, we started getting a bunch of loud cars with no license place ripping through the neighborhood. And not long after that was when the shootings started. It’s unacceptable to not be able to not have answers as to what changed so rapidly. Since it’s not getting better, I guess we’ll have to move somewhere safer.

Seriously…. January 10, 2025 (9:43 pm)

Why do I have to constantly live in fear im getting tired of having to question if im safe while im outside, having to worry about if there’s going to be another shooting seriously get it together guys periodt

Midi January 10, 2025 (10:01 pm)

I’m a couple blocks away, was out grabbing some food during the shoot out but arrived back home just a couple minutes after (like, within 5 minutes after). I was oblivious to what had happened but I noted having seen 3 police vehicles within the neighborhood and thought that was curious. Two were driving but one was parked with engine running.

Bilal Duale January 11, 2025 (3:43 am)

Honestly getting tried of these shootings. these shooting have recently been alarming and worries me for myself and my little siblings we need to step up for our community. At the same time the shooting is not happening for no reason Something bigger is behind this we need to stop this before blood sheds again we already have 2 kids from this neighborhood we need to step up before it could be 10 more.

Tell your community you’re angry January 11, 2025 (11:08 am)

The parents who let their kids go hang out in the Kia boys gangs who run around stealing and shooting don’t care because it’s not their children getting hurt. If you see something and you want change you have to start calling them out. I guarantee you know at least one of these parents and everyone around them thinks it’s ok.
- k January 11, 2025 (1:54 pm)
  
  The kids do die committing crimes: https://westseattleblog.com/2024/01/crime-watch-followup-teenager-dies-of-injuries-from-post-carjacking-west-seattle-crash/
  - Hp January 11, 2025 (6:32 pm)
    
    I meant the specific kids in this neighborhood that are known to be the groups committing these crimes. Their families and neighbors know but no one cares because they don’t face any legal consequences. Example is the student that was shot at the pool. The kids that were with him are his neighbors in this same problematic area and yet the police know the gun was not recovered and nothing happened to those kids or their parents.

VideoThem January 11, 2025 (5:25 am)

I’m sorry all this is happening. Regretfully Seattle has become unsafe on many levels. Video cameras are very inexpensive and easy to install and I would suggest you get a lot of neighbors to install video cameras to help with identity and prosecution. I know there’s a lot of jokes about speed bumps, but get enough of them on the streets over there and it will slow down the cars (including for being videotaped) take all the action steps you can think of. Fortunately, you are very near the police precinct and they can get there quickly.. Drones?

HP resident January 11, 2025 (8:09 am)

High Point has the highest concentration of children per capita in the city. It is absolutely unacceptable for gunfire to occur anywhere like this, but it seems exceptionally cruel in this neighborhood. The police had to reassure a 5-year-old child last night that he was safe now. I hope everyone takes a long, hard think about that and we can all advocate for more resources in our neighborhood. The impacts on our neighborhood children are heartbreaking to me.

Mike January 11, 2025 (5:18 pm)

“High Point has the highest concentration of children per capita in the city.” I’d love to know where you are getting your statistics.
- JN January 12, 2025 (4:58 am)
  
  Check before you post Mike.
  Google is a good place to start before hastily commenting in ignorance.
  
  It took me 30 seconds to confirm the census data as reported in The Seattle times.
  “Census data show that the city’s most family-oriented neighborhood is in West Seattle, in the High Point area. One-third of the population there is under 18, according to census data.” Gene Falk, FYI guy for The Seattle Times.
  - Neighbor January 12, 2025 (12:48 pm)
    
    Nothing Mike said was incendiary or rude. No need to respond like that JN.
    - RUDY January 12, 2025 (3:52 pm)
      
      Mikes’ comment was challenging the facts. “I’d love to know where you are getting your statistics” implies they are fabricated and personal in the use of “your statistics” to the commenter. Incendiary? No. Just a suggestion that people check before challenging

HPHO January 11, 2025 (9:41 am)

I agree on purchasing cameras if you can afford one. Maybe start up a neighborhood watch? Post anything suspicious on the ring community board immediately so everyone has their eye out. Let’s take back our neighborhood and protect the families and children here. See something report it right away. This is a beautiful neighborhood and not a playground for these idiots.

Cameras! January 11, 2025 (11:07 am)

Camera prices have come way way down… but be sure that you use ones with actual electrical cords because the wireless and Wi-Fi can be sketchy and unreliable. Also get low lux camera cameras.(they work even when it’s quite dark and still can get images clearly) YES! Get together as a neighborhood and layout, cameras, and ways to document what’s going on and get them arrested and prosecuted with tangible evidence. Ask SDOT for speed bumps that will impact speed and also more safety for people walking and driving. Good luck.! Get organized.. maybe you can even get Costco to donate some cameras?

Everything in Moderation January 11, 2025 (12:00 pm)

How do we invest in our area to make this stop? What’s needed in our community?

WSzombie January 11, 2025 (5:55 pm)

The first thing that needs to happen is witnesses and victims need to be willing to talk to the police. At this point, it’s apparent that people aren’t quiet because they’re scared, it’s because they’re connected to whatever initiated the conflict. Just like how the victim last week had a bullet go through the window but was uncooperative with the police. If people don’t want to talk to cops, they don’t care if it stops.
No excuse. January 12, 2025 (5:04 am)

Apparently a private security service, since the SPD precinct established so close and its forever shortage of officers is virtually worthless.

We all should not accept the continual response of SPD at community meetings so often reported by the stellar WSB staff.

Obviously cameras do solve the shootings without law enforcement.

Marcus January 11, 2025 (1:38 pm)

Oh my, all of these heart felt comments about being safe and maybe we can get some cameras. One of these days people will realize that 24/7 multiple police patrols are the only thing that will deter these thugs. The thought of being arrested or the very unsavory police/thug gun battle is the only deterrence yet I as I skimmed I did not see a call for continued police staffing. So I will call for continued police buildup, yes more police, to patrol and present a defined presence.

WSzombie January 11, 2025 (5:58 pm)

This is the only correct answer to change things. This stuff will never stop, but it can be reduced. Maybe it would help if the high point security car drove around more instead of parking in the cemetery or behind the mortuary all night. Even though they won’t do anything, a car with lighta might be a deterrent.

1994 January 11, 2025 (10:19 pm)

Is it legal or illegal to discharge a firearm in the city? If illegal the police department should be encouraged to find those shooting firearms and the shooters should have charges filed against them. Consequences need to be stiff! and that may deter some of these idiots from firing guns. If there are no consequences all this wild west shooting is going to continue and just becomes part of our every day life.

rewards. January 13, 2025 (11:16 am)

Given the severity of the recent shootings in HP and the growing threat to public safety, I think SPD should collaborate with Crime Stoppers or a similar group to offer rewards for tips leading to arrests or convictions. Maybe local residents could even contribute to help fund the rewards and encourage more leads.

Sorry, comment time is over.