(Added: Reader photo)

8:10 PM: Police are now investigating a second case of gunfire, this time with evidence found in an alley in the 2900 block of SW Raymond, as well as damage to at least one vehicle. They’ve also detained a possible suspect after a brief foot pursuit. Updates to come.

8:13 PM: Police just told dispatch a witness has “positively identified” the person they detained as one of the multiple people believed to be involved in this gunfire incident. Officers are reporting “building damage” as well as vehicle damage in the block where they say it happened. (Added: An area resident sent these two photos:)

8:37 PM: Officers have told dispatch that a woman assisted in catching the suspect – grabbing them and holding onto them until police caught up.

8:51 PM: The suspect is believed to be a juvenile. Meantime, officers told dispatch they’ve found 20 casings so far.

10:08 PM: Officers also reported finding a gun.

TUESDAY MORNING UPDATE, ADDED 10:41 AM: Police confirm the suspect,15, was arrested and booked into the juvenile detention center. We’ve obtained the report narrative this morning – and also received more photos, from a resident whose home was pierced by bullets:

Basics from the narrative – first call was from someone who said they “saw 4 males shooting guns into the bushes.” The narrative confirms they found 20 casings but says they did NOT find the gun. The narrative says two rounds went into an “occupied residence” – likely the one from which we received photos – as well as an “unoccupied vehicle.” Also: “Witnesses described a black 4-door black sedan with heavily tinted windows, possibly a Prius, drive into the parking area and observed three individuals get out of the vehicle. Witnesses then heard gunshots and one witness saw the shooting and believed the suspects were shooting into the bushes down below to a retention pond. The witnesses then saw the suspects get into the sedan and drive away. Other witnesses in the townhomes observed other suspects down below near the retention pond running away during the shooting. The suspects from the vehicle were described as possibly juveniles wearing all black clothing with facemasks. Behind a garage near where the casings were located, a black backpack was located which contained a cellphone, white spray paint, and a black face mask. The backpack and its contents were logged into evidence.” No gun, though; the suspect subsequently arrested “stated he had wrapped the gun in a sweatshirt and dumped it behind a garbage can in an unknown alley. Officers conducted an extensive search for the firearm, including with a K9, but the firearm could not be located and it is unknown where XXXXXX had dumped the firearm.”

The narrative also says the suspect “is a convicted felon (Robbery 2nd degree).”

Juvenile cases usually move fast so we’ll be checking with prosecutors about what happens today in this one.

Share This

WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Third SW Brandon gunfire incident in two days

April 21, 2025 7:30 pm

| 24 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news

ORIGINAL MONDAY NIGHT REPORT: For the second consecutive evening, and third time in two days, police are investigating gunfire on SW Brandon. This time, officers just reported finding casings on the street in the 2900 block of SW Brandon, after multiple 911 callers reported hearing what they believed to be gunfire. No report of injuries so far. Dispatch did tell officers that at least two callers reported seeing a “silver Lexus” (no model specified) in the area both last night and tonight. They’re blocking Brandon at the scene while they investigate.

TUESDAY UPDATE: We’ve obtained the narrative from SPD. Its primary new information: “The following types of casings were located: 20 9mm Luger, 10 10mm SMB auto, and 8 WMA 24.” It also mentions witness reports of a black Prius seen in the area, and the officer writing the report adds, “Of note, a black Prius with tinted windows was involved in a nearby shooting approximately 45 minutes later but we were unable to determine if it was the same vehicle.”

Share This

Checking for local tributes to Pope Francis

April 21, 2025 7:26 pm

| 2 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle religion

(WSB photo: Statuettes of St. Francis of Assisi, the pope’s namesake, at Our Lady of Guadalupe campus)

As you have probably heard, Pope Francis died this morning, less than a day after his Easter sermon according to a Vatican announcement. He was 88 years old, and the first Latin American and Jesuit to be elected Pope. We’ve checked with local Catholic churches and schools to see if any are planning special masses or vigils. By day’s end, we hadn’t heard back about any plans, due to closures today – but we’ll keep you posted. In the meantime, the Archdiocese of Seattle posted this statement this morning expressing their sadness at the news.

-Hayden Yu Andersen, WSB

Share This

FOLLOWUP: Vehicle-noise enforcement camera bill dies in Legislature

April 21, 2025 5:14 pm

| 29 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

As usual during the State Legislature sessions, the Monday afternoon City Council “briefing meeting” included an update on the status of bills of interest to the city. One of those bills, councilmembers were told today, “is not advancing” – HB 1423, which would have allowed the use of cameras to enforce vehicle-noise laws. The bill had passed the State House but didn’t come to a vote in the full Senate before the most-recent deadline for that to happen. It had been seen as a potential tool for street disorder in neighborhood such as Alki and Belltown. HB 1423’s sponsors included 34th District State Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon of West Seattle, so we’ll be asking if he might try it again next year.

Share This

WEST SEATTLE WILDLIFE: 3 more coyote sightings, and a survey

April 21, 2025 3:48 pm

| 6 COMMENTS

| Coyotes | West Seattle news | Wildlife

Since our last roundup of daylight coyote sightings in West Seattle, we’ve received three more – first from Britta, reporting a Gatewood sighting after 10:30 am this morning:

Saw this cutie on 36th and Orchard. Just wanted to give a heads-up!

#2 was from a texter on Easter Sunday. We’ll spare you the visuals but their caption, from 46th/Charlestown, was that the coyote was “eating the Easter Bunny.”

Finally, sent by M, last Friday evening:

Coyote sighting on Puget Blvd at 7:30 pm. The Coyote came up our driveway and is the size of a German Shepherd. Snapped a picture of it in our backyard. Look out for your cats!

Now a survey – forwarded to us (with permission) by Kersti Muul:

My name is Sam Kreling and I recently earned my Ph.D. from the University of Washington, where I studied the urban coyote population in the Greater Seattle Area. Through this work, I found that many neighborhoods were struggling to live with various wildlife species from coyotes to squirrels and I am hoping to get a non-profit up and running in the Seattle area that focuses on helping people live with wildlife. This organization would hope to “support harmonious coexistence between people and wildlife by promoting understanding, reducing conflicts, and nurturing healthy urban ecosystems for the benefit of all.” I want to know what YOUR community needs/wants to live with wildlife and what you might want to learn about the wildlife in your neighborhood.

If you’re interested in responding to Sam’s survey, here’s the link.

Share This

WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Alki gunfire investigation

April 21, 2025 1:39 pm

| 6 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news

Thanks for the tip! Police investigated gunfire at Alki Beach early Sunday. It’s not classified on the SPD data map as a gunfire incident, but archived police-radio exchanges confirm that officers went to the beach before 3 am after at least two 911 calls, and found four casings near 56th/Alki. No victims were found at the scene but one officer told dispatch that a witness thought they saw someone being taken away in a car. We’re following up with SPD. This was just two nights after police and Parks joined the Alki Community Council‘s April meeting to talk about seasonal safety at the beach.

Share This

CRIME WATCH FOLLOWUP: 18-year-old charged in Avalon 7-Eleven holdup

April 21, 2025 12:57 pm

| 12 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news

(Photos from charging documents)

The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office has charged a suspect in one of last year’s 7-Eleven robberies, the November 13 holdup at the Avalon 7-Eleven. 18-year-old Jason Lawrence, who’s been in jail since March, is charged with one count of first-degree robbery. The court documents allege he stole cash and tobacco products and that he displayed a gun during the holdup. And prosecutors say he already has a record:

The defendant – who was convicted of two counts of Robbery in the Second Degree in September 2024 in juvenile court – committed an armed robbery of a 7-Eleven with a juvenile subject on November 13, 2024. Despite being just eighteen years old, the defendant already has two cases pending in King County Superior Court. The defendant is charged with Unlawful Possession of a Firearm in the First Degree … for a November 23, 2024, incident. A bench warrant was issued in that case on March 5, 2025, after the defendant removed his EHD monitoring equipment. In addition, the defendant is charged with Possessing a Stolen Firearm, Possession of a Stolen Vehicle, and two counts of Unlawful Possession of a Firearm in the First Degree … for a March 12, 2025, incident. The defendant’s criminal history also includes a juvenile conviction for Attempting to Elude a Police Vehicle (2024).

The charging narrative says security video helped detectives identify Lawrence as one of the two armed people shown spending less than two minutes inside the store during the robbery. The charging documents go into extensive details about how, among other things, they matched the hoodie he was wearing with one seen in video related to a North Seattle robbery investigation that same day, in an area where police had seen him before. The detective writing the narrative goes on to say that police arrested Lawrence on March 12 on a warrant, after finding him in a stolen car; a search subsequently authorized by the car’s owner turned up a handgun that police say was taken “in a car prowl” a few days before the Avalon 7-Eleven holdup. (They also say the other person in the robbery video is a juvenile suspect who was arrested and charged with robbery in January – we’re looking into his status, to confirm whether that charge also was in the Avalon 7-Eleven case.) Lawrence remains in jail, with bail set at $370,000, the total from multiple cases on the docket including this one (we’re looking up the others).

Share This

Halcyon Massage and Bodywork: Welcoming a new WSB sponsor

April 21, 2025 11:55 am

| 0 COMMENTS

| Health | West Seattle news

Today we’re welcoming a new WSB sponsor, Halcyon Massage and Bodywork. Here’s what they’d like you to know about what they do:

Halcyon Massage and Bodywork is an integrative manual therapy studio in Sodo’s Urban Worklofts, just across the West Seattle Bridge. Sessions at Halcyon are an invitation to slow down and tune into the messages of your body as owner/operator Jennifer Keller, LMT, CCST, CMLDT supports you on your individuated healing path.

Halcyon offers gentle yet potent treatments by design. They are especially effective for people seeking relief from persistent pain, recovering from injury, managing stress and PTSD, and folks with sensitive nervous systems. This work helps to regulate your nervous system, cues safety in the body, and allows Jennifer to access long-guarded structures without triggering reflexive bracing. This encourages lasting change.

If you’ve ever encountered a tangled necklace, you know it takes patience and delicacy to get it untangled without damaging the chain. Often, the knot at the crux of the tangle has all sorts of other loops tied in with it. Jennifer unravels these knots and tangles, layer after layer, to treat the root cause so you can improve how you feel in your body and live a fuller life.

Whether you’re seeking relief from chronic pain, assistance with injury or surgery recovery,support for nervous system regulation, or simply wanting to improve your overall well-being, you belong at Halcyon.

Halcyon Massage and Bodywork is located in the Urban Worklofts at 3250 Airport Way S. By appointment only: Tues 11-7, Thurs 10-6, Fri 10-5, Sat 10-4. First-time clients receive $10 off, and packages are available. Now is the time to shore up your internal reserves. Schedule your session today at halcyonmb.com

We thank Halcyon Massage and Bodywork for choosing to advertise their business by sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news on WSB. Interested in doing the same? Please email WSBAdvertising@wsbsales.com – thank you!

Share This

From comedy to calm to college, here’s our list for your West Seattle Monday

April 21, 2025 9:58 am

| 0 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Rhododendron blooming, photographed by Gary Pro)

Here’s our “what’s happening” list for this partly sunny Monday, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

BABY STORY TIME: Noon today at Southwest Library (9010 35th SW), geared toward little ones up to 18 months old.

INFO SESSION AT SOUTH SEATTLE COLLEGE: Learn more about West Seattle’s own South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor) by visiting 1-2 pm today:

Are you interested in attending South Seattle College? Join us for an Information Session to learn more about the programs offered at South and the steps to get started! Topics covered include College Transfer Programs, Professional Technical & Skilled Trades Programs, How To Apply, Getting Help Applying, and Campus Resources.

Location and other info in our calendar listing.

CITY COUNCIL BRIEFING MEETING: See City Councilmembers preview what’s ahead for the week, 2 pm. The agenda explains how to watch (no public-comment period at this meeting).

HOMEWORK HELP: Back from spring break – K-12 students can get drop-in help at High Point Library (3411 SW Raymond), 4-5:45 pm.

GET CRAFTY: 6-10 pm, Monday is “Crafting and Creativity Night” at The Missing Piece (9456 35th SW), info here.

D&D: Weekly D&D at 6:30 pm at Meeples Games (3727 California SW). All welcome, first-time players included!

LISTENING TO GRIEF SUPPORT GROUP: Be seen and heard in your sorrow. 6:30 pm at Mama Be Well Healing Studio with Listening to Grief. Registration/fee info here. (4034A California SW).

MONDAY NIGHT TRIVIA: Four places to play tonight! … Music quiz at Easy Street Records (4559 California SW), 6:30 and 7:30 pm sessions … 7 pm at The Good Society (California/Lander) … 7 and 8 pm Sporcle Pub Quiz at Three 9 Lounge (4505 39th SW) … 7:30 pm with QuizFix at The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW)

MEDITATION AT ALKI UCC: Every Monday – doors open at Alki UCC at 6:45, meeting is from 7-8:30. (6115 SW Hinds)

COMEDY NIGHT: Cozy Comedy‘s monthly show at Otter on the Rocks (4210 SW Admiral Way), 7 pm – ticket info in our calendar listing.

MEDITATION IN FAUNTLEROY: More Monday night calming – free weekly Zen sitting/meditation in the chapel at Fauntleroy UCC (9140 California SW), 7 pm-8:30 pm.

SPORTS: Two boys-soccer matches –West Seattle HS vs. Nathan Hale at Walt Hundley Playfield (34th/Myrtle) at 4 pm, Chief Sealth IHS vs. Franklin at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex (2801 SW Thistle), 4:30 pm.

MUSIC AT THE ALLEY: The Alley features music on Monday nights – jazz with The Westside Trio, 8 pm at The Alley (behind 4509 California SW), 21+, no cover.

MONDAY KARAOKE 9 pm Monday nights, singers welcome for karaoke at Talarico’s Pizzeria (4718 California SW).

Thanks to everyone who sends info for our calendar – if you have something to add or cancel (or otherwise update), please send the info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

Share This

COUNTDOWN: Less than 3 weeks until West Seattle 5K. Special invitation for students!

April 21, 2025 9:10 am

| 0 COMMENTS

| How to help | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

The West Seattle 5K, coming up on Sunday morning, May 18, is not only West Seattle’s biggest run of the year – with more than 1,500 participants last year alone – but also a fundraiser for, and coordinated by, the West Seattle High School PTSA. They hope to encourage even more students to be part of it this year, so they’re highlighting this part of the original announcement:

Sign your student up for the annual competition among West Seattle High School students. The goal is to see which grade and club gets the most classmates to register. The winning grade gets out of Homeroom early for a special treat and cash ($250) to their grade level ASB. “We have heard from event runners that they didn’t know this event benefited the high school so we want to make sure to raise that awareness as well as get as many WSHS students involved as possible,” says Kelley O’Connor, event co-chair. Be sure to select your grade and club when registering. The winning club gets a special treat for all it’s members as well!

Registration is live now at www.westseattle5K.com and www.getmeregistered.com/WestSeattle5K

Adults are $40 (5/10 raises to $45)
Youth 19 and under are $20 (5/10 and later is $30)
West Seattle High School students are $20 (5/10 and later is $30)
West Seattle High School staff is free (need passcode and can buy shirt for $15)
Kids under 6 are free (no shirt included, but can buy for $15)

The WS5K start/finish line is on Alki Avenue near 61st SW.

Share This

TRAFFIC, WEATHER, TRANSIT, ROAD WORK: Back-to-school Monday

April 21, 2025 6:00 am

| 0 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

9:20 AM: Collision at Glenn/Oregon on the west side of The Junction, with police and SFD responding.

Earlier:

6:00 AM: Good morning! It’s Monday, April 21, 2025; schools are back in session after spring break.

WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES

Cleearing today,, high in the upper 50s. Today’s sunrise/sunset – 6:08 am and 8:08 pm.

(Saturday night’s sunset from Cove Park in Fauntleroy – photo by Tom Trulin)

TRANSIT TODAY

Water Taxi – Regular West Seattle service; spring/summer schedule has begun, with later-in-the-evening sailings Fridays and Saturdays.

Metro buses – Regular schedule.

Washington State Ferries – Regular service on the Triangle Route, with M/V Kittitas and M/V Cathlamet, plus M/V Salish is serving as the “bonus boat”.

ROAD WORK

-The Admiral Way Bridge’s outside lane on the eastbound/southbound side remains closed.

-With the nice weather, projects may pop up without warning – please let us know if you see one affecting traffic.

SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS

High Bridge – Here’s the main camera, followed by the Fauntleroy-end camera:

Spokane Street Viaduct – This view usually looks westward, with eastbound lanes at left and westbound lanes at right:

Low Bridge – Looking west:

1st Avenue South Bridge:

Delridge cameras: In addition to the one below (Delridge/Genesee), cameras are also at Delridge/Juneau, Delridge/Henderson, Delridge/Oregon, and video-only (so you have to go to the map), Delridge/Holden and Delridge/Thistle.

MORE TRAFFIC CAMS: All functioning traffic cams citywide are here (including links to live video for most); for a quick scan of West Seattle and vicinity-relevant cameras, see this WSB page.

See a problem on the bridges/streets/paths/water? Please text or call our hotline (when you can do it safely, and after you’ve reported to authorities if they’re not already on scene) – 206-293-6302. Thank you!

Share This