UPDATE: Police arrest man after gunfire in South Admiral

| Crime | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

10:58 PM: If you’re among the many 911 callers who have reported hearing gunfire in South Admiral, police are investigating; they believe the shots are being fired by a man in an apartment at an address reported as 3262 California SW. No word of injuries so far but police say they’re still hearing shots from outside the building.

11:05 PM: Police are calling for reinforcements and told dispatch they’re planning to block off California both ways in the area.

(Added: Reader photo)

11:12 PM: They’ve done that now. They’re also bringing in a K-9 team as well as a bus they can use for evacuees.

11:23 PM: And they’re moving radio communication to an unmonitorable channel so updates likely will be fewer until this is resolved.

11:30 PM: A reader within earshot of the building says it sounds like progress is being made.

11:34 PM: The suspect is in custody and will be checked by medics, according to SFD radio. No gunshot wounds.

11:42 PM: Side note, the suspect was reported to be alone in his apartment except for a dog, who police are now taking to a shelter.

12:03 AM: Officers just announced they’re reopening California in both directions.

Adm July 31, 2025 (11:06 pm)

Less than a block away. Many police vehicles. Several volleys of gunfire. Police on loudspeaker ordering someone to come out. Oddly traffic seems to still be going through on California.

West Seattle Mad Sci Guy July 31, 2025 (11:07 pm)

Crazy amount of shootings in the last week. And separately arsons.

49th and Admiral July 31, 2025 (11:11 pm)

According to south dispatch call at 10:53pm reported suspect was also involved with a call yesterday where they were reportedly yelling about an invisible rat and had a handgun…

BUDDSMOM July 31, 2025 (11:17 pm)

I saw 3 SPD going North on California in a big hurry and wondered what was going on. Thank you WSB for being Johnny on the spot(as always!)with the latest information!

SF July 31, 2025 (11:19 pm)

We’re around the corner. Heard the shots. At least two separate series of many rapid shots, but semiautomatic. Sounds like a handgun. Thank you for your timely reporting WSB!

West Seattle Mad Sci Guy July 31, 2025 (11:57 pm)

How does one know the difference between semi automatic and automatic? Just curious. Minimal knowledge of guns here.
- Rhonda August 1, 2025 (1:23 am)
  
  Fully-automatic sounds like one, continuous string of very-rapid fire….like a zipper. Semi-automatic is a series of pops like a car back-firing.
- cssndrlnn August 1, 2025 (6:42 am)
  
  You can tell by the the sound. A semiautomatic fires a single shot at a time, an automatic continuously fires.
- Curious George August 1, 2025 (8:55 am)
  
  Easiest explanation is to Goggle it. Semi automatic = 2-3 rounds per second vs 12-15 automatic. Fully automatic weapons haven’t been legal for the general public to own since pre WW II.
  - West Seattle Mad Sci Guy August 1, 2025 (12:21 pm)
    
    Google often lacks nuance that might be better described by a person (e.g. there could be a distinct auditory difference beyond speed. Google might just tell me rounds per second). That and I’M JUST LONELY! ;-). Asking and receiving answers here also may educate other folks that wouldn’t have been interested enough to search.

Corey July 31, 2025 (11:27 pm)

We’re held up at the Little Donkey across the street. Our car is parked on the corner. The team at LD are awesome!

admiral July 31, 2025 (11:32 pm)

across the street , a lot of officers were shouting orders to someone seemingly complying with until just a moment ago.

n7oep July 31, 2025 (11:32 pm)

One in custody, under control.

WSB July 31, 2025 (11:35 pm)

Thanks. SFD radio revealed that too. Glad this was resolved relatively quickly.
Michael M July 31, 2025 (11:44 pm)

SFD now involved, Scenes of Violence Aid, several units involved.
- WSB July 31, 2025 (11:53 pm)
  
  Yes, just broken glass, apparently. All but two crews were dismissed.

Jay August 1, 2025 (12:07 am)

Where can people see if the dog may be better suited in a new home?

My building August 1, 2025 (2:03 am)

SPD a great big THANK YOU!!! Wow did you guys show up.

pelicans August 1, 2025 (3:36 am)

Thank you SPD. You put yourselves out there daily for us in many things great and small. May God protect you in all that you do.

22blades August 1, 2025 (6:19 am)

We’re not going to solve this one arrest at a time. It’s obviously a systemic problem. Guns. Guns, Guns. Too many guns. Raise the bar of responsibility for purchasers. Licensing. Testing. Recurrent testing. Real penalties for violations for buyers & sellers. The Second Amendment isn’t a blank check.

junctioneer August 1, 2025 (8:36 am)

Thanks WSB for the reporting.Side note, because this has come up before, although it is acceptable to refer to directional parts of neighborhoods with capital letters, it isn’t necessary. And here it contributes to the confusion people have around the North Admiral neighborhood. Since Admiral and North Admiral are one and the same, any calling of the southern part of Admiral/North Admiral as “South Admiral” instead of “south North Admiral” (awkward) or “south Admiral” further perpetuates the myth that “South Admiral” is a neighborhood of Seattle, or that “North Admiral” is just a region of “Admiral” when it is really just the full name of the same neighborhood.

Sillygoose August 1, 2025 (8:47 am)

That poor dog, it must be a nervous wreck. What shelter was it taken too? I hope it won’t be returned this person.

tim August 1, 2025 (8:47 am)

Oh, that building. And let’s thank the city council for making it impossible to remove undesirable tenants.

BigBling August 1, 2025 (9:27 am)

Again, for the people who don’t realize, GUNS GUNS GUNS. We can’t be trusted with them.

Jethro Marx August 1, 2025 (3:25 pm)

You and this guy can’t be trusted with them; I’m fine. Also very Seattle of us commenters to show 10x more compassion for the animal which does not appear to be suffering than the human who is very likely having serious health issues. But as Hagrid says, “People can be a bit funny abou’ their pets.”