WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Gunfire leads to Riverview search, with helicopter (updated Thursday)

8:27 PM: The Guardian One helicopter has arrived in Riverview to help police look for an armed suspect. The incident that started at 12th and Webster is logged as an assault, and reported to have involved gunfire, though there was no medical dispatch; we’re still looking into how it started.

8:33 PM: The aerial search has exhausted the possibilities, so Guardian One is leaving; police are still present on the ground.

8:39 PM: According to the dispatch audio, this involved a man firing a gun from one corner of the intersection; no one hit. He was described as an “unknown-race male, 5’9″to 6′, black hoodie, light-blue jeans, white shoes,” wielding a black pistol.

9 PM: In a radio exchange after leaving the scene, police just noted “there were a lot of rounds shot” but no property damage reported. (If you discover any later, be sure to call it in – you can refer to incident 25-060427.)

ADDED THURSDAY PM: We obtained the redacted police narrative, and it includes the excerpt below of what the person identified as the victim told police:

XXXX said that he was in his house when all of a sudden he heard a short string of gunshots from Riverview Playfield. XXXX secured his XXXX (XXXXX) on the outside of his shorts with an open carry holster and stepped out onto the sidewalk of his house. XXXX does not have a concealed carry license, but in WA state, you are allowed to open carry a handgun without a CPL as long as it is not concealed.

(He said the suspect) was walking away from Riverview Playfield Westbound on Sw Webster.

XXXX called out to the male and said, “was that you shooting?”

The male replied, telling XXXX that he was “…just trying out my gun”.

XXXX yelled back at the suspect to not be firing guns in the neighborhood. XXXX claimed that the suspect then fired multiple shots towards him after a heated argument. XXXX said that he drew his handgun and returned fire. The suspect later walked off, possibly either South bound or Westbound.

XXXX said that the shots were exchanged in a North / South direction. …
As I was speaking with XXXX, backing officers located XXXX casings near the roundabout at 12 Ave SW / SW Webster St. We later located XXXX casings from XXXX in his front yard from where he returned fire …

A witness/ XXXX caught the shooting on his XXXX at XXXX St. In the video, you can see approximately three gunshots in the lower right hand corner, which would be on the South side of Riverview playfield, just East of 12th Ave SW / SW Webster St. You then see a XXXX walking West on SW Webster St. The male stops at the intersection of 12th Ave SW / SW Webster St when he is being yelled at by XXXX.

Just as XXXX told me, in the video XXXX asks the male if he was the one shooting, which the male replies that “yes, I was trying out my gun”. The two get into a brief argument and an exchange of gunfire happens. From my observation, it appears that XXXX fired his handgun after being shot at by the suspect. I do believe that this was a good self defense shooting. …
We later located XXXX more shell casings in Riverview Playfield, which would’ve been the suspects first rounds fired before shots were exchanged with XXXX.

We were unable to locate any property damage or additional victims involved in this shooting.

12 Replies to "WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Gunfire leads to Riverview search, with helicopter (updated Thursday)"

  • Neighbor March 5, 2025 (8:31 pm)

    Thank you for the update. We heard something that sounded like gunfire. Police were in the area shortly afterwards. 

  • Resident March 5, 2025 (8:58 pm)

    This was down the street from our house, we heard the gun shots, sirens, helicopters, and the police were camped out here for a while but they’ve all left. Is there an update?

    • WSB March 5, 2025 (9:00 pm)

      They haven’t yet found the suspect and they cleared the scene. That’s it for updates; I’ll request report narrative tomorrow.

  • Resident March 5, 2025 (10:14 pm)

    Ah, yes at about 8:00 I heard 3 shots – 2 shots – 3 shots

  • Ronald foust March 5, 2025 (10:35 pm)

    I seen these shell casings as well, right in front of the Dropbox @ the Library.

  • neighbor March 6, 2025 (7:20 am)

    We were walking our dogs on that corner at the time of the shots. We heard shouting and shots shortly after but didn’t get a good look at the shooter because we got scared and ran. 

  • WSB March 6, 2025 (5:58 pm)

    For those watching this story, we got the police narrative late today and added verbatim excerpts above.

  • RickB March 6, 2025 (9:33 pm)

    Ah, the well regulated militia envisioned by our wise founding fathers…

  • DEAD ENDER March 7, 2025 (5:32 am)

    I get that a ‘good self defense shooting’ might mean, one where the person defending themselves could have done it legally, and avoid prosecution. This is not a “good shooting” in my mind given that, many projectiles flew where other people might happen to be in the way. On the part of both shooters.  I am sure there would be a different story, had someone gotten “caught in the crossfire” and ended up in the hospital. 

    • WSB March 9, 2025 (2:56 pm)

      In police-report jargon, ‘good’ means ‘bonafide’ or ‘confirmed.’ Common example, if they check out an alarm or other reason for a possible burglary to be reported, and they find evidence of forced entry and/or stolen items, officers will inform dispatch that it’s a “good burglary.”

  • Rhonda March 7, 2025 (8:19 am)

    We discovered yesterday morning that my car bumper had been hit by a stray bullet, which we confirmed when we took it to the police station. 

  • Bucktoothbilly March 10, 2025 (6:46 pm)

    Young fools testing their illegal guns.  Obviously this is not a proper way to discharge a firearm and is completely wrong and negligent to anyone’s safety. Then again what do they care these are weapons that are leathal and dangerous to our community especially if it’s in the wrong hands which is many. 

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