UPDATE: West Seattle shooting investigation with 1 victim, 2 scenes – 30th/Elmgrove, Roxhill Park (more info added Friday)

| Crime | West Seattle news

2:50 PM: SPD and SFD are responding to 30th/Elmgrove, where there’s a report of a man in a car with a gunshot wound to the back.

2:53 PM: Dispatch asked police if they want schools in the area to shelter in place; officers noted that there seems to be a time delay (suggesting it’s not known whether there’s active danger). They said a witness reported ‘four participants’ in the shooting and that all were reported to be “actively shooting at each other.” Roxhill Park also is reported to have been involved in some way (though it’s a half mile from the originally reported scene)

(WSB photos)

3:05 PM: We’ve just arrived at 30th/Elmgrove, where Medic 26 has just departed, reportedly with the victim, headed for Harborview. Police are still at the scene. At least one person is reported to be in custody. Via medical radio, the victim is reported to be an 18-year-old man with two gunshot wounds to the upper torso and is conscious.

3:20 PM: We’ve now arrived at Roxhill Park. The west side of the park is taped off and police have reported finding evidence of gunfire here.

4:29 PM: SFD tells us the victim was in stable condition when transported, and now describes him as 17 years old.

5:30 PM: Police confirm that the victim was shot at Roxhill Park. They say they are “interviewing one person at this time and are searching for up to two additional suspects” and ask anyone with information to call their tipline, 206-233-5000.

ADDED 11 AM FRIDAY: More info from police – the victim was admitted in serious condition, plus:

Officers determined that four males were engaged in a loud argument by the play structure. At some point, one male pulled a gun on the other three males, and they all exchanged gunfire. The lone male then fled on foot. The other three males fled in a Prius. Officers quickly determined the males contacted at 30/Elmgrove were the same males observed shooting at the park. … Detectives responded to the scenes and HMC. Detectives processed the scene at the park and coordinated the impound of the suspect vehicle … The 18 yo male was placed under arrest and booked into KCJ for Investigation of Assault and UPFA. The juvenile male will be booked into YSC for Investigation of Assault and UPFA, once he is discharged from the hospital. Two unidentified suspects remain at large.

(UPFA is “unlawful possession of a firearm.”) We’re following up next with the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.

Natty RAD! March 13, 2025 (2:56 pm)

I wonder if that’s where the 5 SPD vehicles flying down Delridge Way SW (past Trenton) 5 minutes ago were headed. Just saw two ambulances as well but they were headed in the opposite direction. Hope the victim is okay.

Titan Uranus March 13, 2025 (3:06 pm)

Too bad people can’t throw hands when they disagree. Typical cowards will always grab a gun.

R Kaufman March 13, 2025 (3:14 pm)

I wouldn’t describe an 18 year old as a man.

whataboutthecreedence March 13, 2025 (3:30 pm)

For a moment of levity in this horrible situation, I wouldn’t describe many 30 year olds as men either.
Tim March 13, 2025 (3:40 pm)

Man enough to go fight and die for our country!
EdChurch March 13, 2025 (3:43 pm)

How about an 18 year old boy, is that better? Or 18 year old person?
Pax March 13, 2025 (4:03 pm)

I don’t think that’s what we should be worrying about
PT March 13, 2025 (4:08 pm)

If you can vote and age is consider an adult than yes lol
- WSB March 13, 2025 (4:28 pm)
  
  Moot point now. Per my followup with SFD, victim now described as 17 … updating again above.
Anne March 13, 2025 (5:51 pm)

That’s what you take from this?
WSzombie March 13, 2025 (6:26 pm)

Apparently man enough to illegally possess a firearm, be involved in an altercation in the middle of the (school) day, and determine he should attempt to kill people with the illegal firearm. Yeah, those are man decisions. Doesn’t matter how old you are, repercussions of your decisions are determined by your awareness of right and wrong, not how long ago you were born.

Jc March 13, 2025 (3:24 pm)

I just received word from my son. He’s been told to shelter in place at his school. He is at the Westside School.

Daniel March 13, 2025 (3:35 pm)

I go to Westside School too and we had shelter in place right at the end of last period. I hope the victim is ok.

doubleA March 13, 2025 (5:04 pm)

bro me too i hope they’re okay

SickOfThis March 13, 2025 (4:25 pm)

So did the shooting happen at Roxhill Park then those involved went to the 30th/Elmgrove location when 911 was called? Or did some shots get fired in the 30th/Elmgrove location too?

WSB March 13, 2025 (4:27 pm)

Don’t know, yet, for sure, but … Everything so far suggests shooting at Rox Park, then victim went or was taken to 30th/Elmgrove and 911 was called ..

WS Citizen March 13, 2025 (4:33 pm)

I live by Roxhill Park and the shooting was there. It sounded like 16 shots to me in about 3 seconds. It happened so fast I thought it my be fireworks.

ICEFROXT March 13, 2025 (6:36 pm)

Yup. I heard the shots too. Almost like fireworks. I was texting my wife about it then the sirens 🚨 began. I was like, yup, those were gun shots. Crazy to see its between the ages of 17 and 18. Wild.

Cybertruck March 13, 2025 (5:24 pm)

I feel very sorry for the people who live across the street from Roxhill Park. They’ve seen horrific things over the past few years: murders and attempted murders like this.

Long time WS resident March 13, 2025 (6:53 pm)

Heard the multiple rapid fire shots while I was visiting my 93 year old mom who lives in Village Green Retirement apartments, just east of Roxhill park. Feeling angry and sad for our community. I hope the young victim recovers.

W Seattle neighbor March 13, 2025 (7:07 pm)

Poor kids. They were there playing pokemon Go and within a matter of minutes it turned horribly!!! Hope everyone is okay 😭

Angela March 13, 2025 (8:28 pm)

I hope the victim is stable. Any word on their condition?

Juanita March 13, 2025 (9:12 pm)

I heard the shots, sounded like fire crackers, all the way on SW Trenton near 35th Avenue. I realize sound can travel, but what the heck were they shooting at each other with?

Daniel March 14, 2025 (12:21 am)

Statistically speaking, probably 9mm handguns.

1994 March 13, 2025 (9:27 pm)

The shooting needs to stop. Period. Teens with guns need to be stopped. Period.

Rhonda March 13, 2025 (10:05 pm)

Meanwhile, as the bullets were whizzing towards kids today: HB 1178 in the State Legislature would eliminate sentencing enhancements for firearm offenses, involving a minor in gang activity, trafficking drugs near schools and parks, etc. https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=1178&Initiative=false&Year=2025

Person March 14, 2025 (3:55 am)

That’s wild!
Dave March 14, 2025 (5:33 pm)

This is so wild. People scream for more gun control for the people filling out all of the forms and buying firearms legally. That’s not who is shooting people randomly. The real change will happen when we start holding people accountable for their actions. We should just try to enforce the laws that are in place for a couple of months. See if it’s better or the same….

Solfire March 13, 2025 (10:31 pm)

The Youth are out of control. Period full stop. Start locking them up for extended jail time 10 – 20+ it’s all they understand. Stop babying violent gun offenders.

anonyme March 14, 2025 (6:20 am)

I wouldn’t blame it entirely on “the youth”, nor do I think that they are the one who should bear the full brunt of punishment. Not saying they shouldn’t be punished in a meaningful way, but I would also include the adults who supplied the weapons, the manufacturers who profit from gun violence, and the politicians who make sure that they continue to do so. If the Sackler family can be held accountable for opioid use, then gun manufacturers should be responsible for their wholly negative contribution to society.
SunriseHeights March 14, 2025 (6:46 am)

Let’s not brand a whole generation by the actions of a few. Those actions definitely need to be addressed, and we’re more likely to address them effectively if we focus in the actual actors rather than treating it like a generational problem. It’s especially important that we not treat “youths” like they are pariahs to society. That helps no one.
GoodGodItsAGoose March 14, 2025 (2:33 pm)

While I agree that punishment is necessary, please keep in mind that those are youth, with underdeveloped or close-to-developed brains and heightened hormones. While I’m not quite sure the science behind those hormones levels, I do know that it can lead to impulsivity and heightened emotional responses in some cases. Sometimes, lashouts like this aren’t as simple as “you’re the bad guy, let’s lock you up,” rather actions like this can be a result of years of unfortunate, harmful circumstances. I’m not saying this event was a cause of that, I’m just saying that the cause of such events is very important and the following punishment, in my opinion, should take the events that lead up to this action more into account. I am also not saying these people shouldn’t be punished, they definitely should. I would like to bring up, however, that the penal system in the USA is not hardly at all helpful to lowering repeat crime offenses or helping those who have broken the law to re-enter society as a productive member. So, these males, if they did end up going to prison or jail, would likely struggle to re-enter society and change their ways due to how the penal system is set up.
- Dave March 14, 2025 (5:39 pm)
  
  Respectfully, thinking the law is a suggestion is the problem. Making excuses for criminal behavior is incomprehensible.
  - GoodGodItsAGoose March 15, 2025 (9:16 am)
    
    Oh, I never meant to mean that the law was a suggestion or make excuses, I was just trying to point out that cracking down harder on teens who are still trying to figure out exactly what they’re doing, who they are, and their life situation may not be the best approach. As Ive said, these people need to be punished, but they also need to be helped. The situation won’t really get better if no-one tries to help them.
- Kyle March 15, 2025 (8:05 am)
  
  Respectfully, what if one of those bullets hit a kid at the playground? There needs to be severe consequences if you make this choice.
whattheheck March 14, 2025 (2:45 pm)

Stop making it so easy for them to get guns. Looking at you, Trump voters.

Citizen Joe March 13, 2025 (11:07 pm)

Where are these teenagers buying or getting the guns and ammo? Let’s start there. Hope the victim is okay. Bullets in your body are not fun, despite what you may have seen in the movies… ☹️☹️☹️

WSB March 14, 2025 (11:07 am)

More info from police re: circumstances and arrest, added above.

B March 14, 2025 (11:51 am)

I wonder why Denny/CSIHS weren’t shelter in place as well? This seems to have begun right before the end-of-day, regular school schedule. Literally right around the time all of the kids are exiting the schools and hitting the streets.

AH Neighbor March 14, 2025 (2:13 pm)

Yeah, wondered the same as I was picking up my kiddo from Denny with sirens echoing all around and Roxhill Park full of police. They even did a shelter-in-place drill yesterday.
- WSB March 14, 2025 (2:41 pm)
  
  Police were in contact with area schools per scanner traffic.
- B March 14, 2025 (9:53 pm)
  
  @AH Neighbor: Yeah I was confused for a minute when my kiddo told me they’d sheltered-in-place as a drill earlier in the day, and not for reals during the incident later in the day……
Anonymous March 14, 2025 (3:25 pm)

Unless the cops inform the schools of something happening in the area they can’t shelter in place or lock down. Denny was out. And if the cops don’t call then things must be handled.

grilled cheese March 14, 2025 (11:51 am)

So if you shoot a gun at a playground in WA State is that a federal offence?

WSB March 14, 2025 (12:22 pm)

Not that I’m aware of.

whattheheck March 14, 2025 (2:44 pm)

I can’t imagine an argument on a playground in West Seattle that requires anyone to shoot anyone. This is so weird. This is not a life and death situation. This is West Seattle ffs. The conservative politicians in our federal government has made it so easy to procure guns, so that children and young people, who don’t have fully baked critical thinking skills, can shoot people for whatever reason. Anyone who votes for Republicans should think twice.

joelarborheights March 14, 2025 (3:57 pm)

The Democrats are not doing much better. Disarming citizens in the state while actual Nazis take over the capitol. By the way, it is not exactly easy to get a gun in Washington state, have you purchased one lately? It requires a background check, proof of training and a waiting period. None of which stopped these kids from recklessly shooting in a public park.

Sealth Neighbor March 14, 2025 (4:39 pm)

I live on ElmGrove and yesterday was beyond disturbing. We have had 2 deaths off Thistle – Ka’Don Brown last April. Still Unsolved. The shooting at SWAC earlier this year. Literally children with a gun. No arrest yet. A young man was killed in Highpoint and a wild west shoot out mid day in Highpoint not too long ago. Other random shooting on Thistle at least 2 that I can remember in the last year or so. I have taken walks around my neighborhood and picked up shell casing. No joke. And now this. Middle of the day at a PLAYGROUND! So……yes there needs to be huge consequences for these young men. They could and eventually will kill someone in the cross fire. A child perhaps. I raised 2 kids and you can absolutely expect them to not behave like this. The under developed brain plea does work here. The stakes are too high. If they are over 18 and want to play with guns their parents should take them to the Marine/ Army/Navy recruiter. They might grow up, learn some real discipline. As far as the boys yesterday goes I would also like to ask where did they each get a gun AND where the hell are the parents in all of this? Seriously. Also please no maybe there is no father around ect. Where is the community of Men and Mentors? I’m not kidding about the military. I have a brother who was running with the wrong crowd at 18. My Mom, a widow walked his skinny backside down to the Army Recruiter. A couple years in the DMZ Zone shaped him up fast. If this is what they are doing at 3 pm on a Thursday they are already heading down the wrong road fast. I hope the young man who was shot makes it through. I also thank Seattle Police for putting their lives on the line everyday dealing with this bs.