WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Alki gunfire (Monday update)

1:11 AM: Seattle Police responding to 911 calls about possible gunfire on Alki have confirmed that’s what it was – officers just told dispatch that they’ve found “a couple of casings outside Natalie’s on Alki.” No injuries reported, and no word of property damage so far.

ADDED MONDAY MORNING: We just obtained the report narrative from SPD (redactions are theirs):

On 09/08/2025, at approximately 0050 hrs, while working uniform patrol for the City of Seattle under the call-sign 3W31 with Officer XXXX, I was dispatched to shots-fired call at 2532 ALKI AV SW.

The call notes were as follows: “5 MINS AGO, GROUP OF TEEN MALES WALKED UP TO RP HOLDING A GUN UNDER JACKET AND ASKED RP WHERE HE WAS FROM, ASKED RP ABOUT HIS WATCH AND NECKLACE, DID NOT TAKE ANY ITEMS, RP SAW MAGAZINE OF GUN UNDER JACKET, GROUP NOW STANDING NEAR THEIR VEH AT NEARBY BUSINESS”.

Upon arrival, I contacted the witness, XXXX, who stated that an unknown Hispanic male wearing a black puffer jacket, black polo, and blue jeans confronted him. XXXX stated the male asked about his place of origin, value of his watch and chain, then flashed open his puffer jacket, brandishing what XXXX believed to be a firearm with a drum mag. XXXX states the man then left eastbound on ALKI AV SW. After a few moments passed, XXXX heard multiple gunshots near 2532 ALKI AV SW, and a XXXX XXXX sedan driving away at a high rate of speed. Vehicle descriptions beyond the color and make are unknown.

I then performed an area check around the location given where I discovered XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX casing that had been fired. The fired cartridge casing was found in front of the dumpster directly in front of the dispatched location, Natalie’s On Alki restaurant.

Eric 44 September 8, 2025 (1:38 am)

Iooks like that early curfew and shutting down the fire pits at 9:30 that was implemented this summer worked out really well Alki has been a disaster this summer once again it was just all talk and no action on taking care of the problems on Alki we need more officers on patrol

Al King September 8, 2025 (6:35 am)

Curious as to the time it took from the 911 calls to officers arriving.

WSB September 8, 2025 (8:47 am)

Suspected gunfire is an immediate dispatch.
- rpo September 8, 2025 (9:22 am)
  
  I don’t think anyone believes that results in a quick response based on the past few years.
  - WSB September 8, 2025 (12:36 pm)
    
    According to third-party audio archives as well as the SPD data map, the dispatch was at 12:49 and officers were en route immediately. If anyone has reason to believe the 12:49 dispatch was a lag from when the suspected shots were called in, please speak up. The first radio mention of an officer on scene is 12:57. I don’t know where they were coming from, that would take a different level of going back through audio archives to see what the previous calls for those particular officers were; remember that the Southwest Precinct spans all the way to South Park. – TR
- Bill September 8, 2025 (10:48 am)
  
  That doesn’t answer the original question. Immediate dispatch doesn’t mean immediate arrival.
Visitor September 9, 2025 (12:26 am)

You know, it was actually pretty fast. I’d say about 2 or 3 minutes passed between my hearing the shots, and the police being there.

Shadowtripper September 8, 2025 (7:21 am)

Why would anyone resist putting cameras aimed at the public right aways (sidewalks and streets) to get live images of those that are terrorizing our neighborhoods? The first step in identifying and capturing these criminals.

Brandon September 8, 2025 (12:32 pm)

Slippery slope argument. And the general opinion “Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety” because of the implications.
- JD September 8, 2025 (2:01 pm)
  
  The slippery slope argument is a fallacy of logic. Also, being videotaped in a public space isn’t really a violation of privacy in the same way it used to be. Everyone carries little portable video cameras now and you might be recorded without your knowledge at any given time while out in public.
  - Brandon September 8, 2025 (6:23 pm)
    
    So, then people can videotape others sunbathing in their swimsuits at the beach because it’s public property, why not. “It’s no different than the cameras watching you from above on the street corner” would be the defense. No thanks. Every civilian doesn’t need to be taped because electorate stopped having high standards for their community and quit holding people accountable for their actions.
  - Jason September 8, 2025 (6:34 pm)
    
    Are you ok with China’s big brother esque policies? I’m not and the slipper slope is not a fallacy in this regard.
- Al King September 8, 2025 (3:56 pm)
  
  Brandon. You’re saying: let them drink;shoot;drive recklessly because that’s their constitutional right? Clearly you don’t live on Alki. You must live in a gated community insulated from the real world.
- Shadowtripper September 8, 2025 (9:13 pm)
  
  Sorry Brandon, Cameras don’t take away personal liberty, they produce it by making public sidewalks, buses, streets and homes such as not having bullets shatter windows in your home safer for everyone other than the hoodlums.
K September 8, 2025 (4:51 pm)

Because all available data from cities that use them shows that they don’t improve crime rates, don’t improve overall arrest or conviction rates, and even lead to false identification at times, and are just a giant waste of tax money in general.
- WSzombie September 8, 2025 (9:52 pm)
  
  @K – Without providing your data sources, your stance on the success of surveillance programs is purely subjective opinion. It took less than 60 seconds to find many cities experiencing dramatic reductions in crime. Even Seattle has seen crime reduction. Is it perfect? No. Is it better than nothing? Absolutely.For those interested here’s an article as a source. There are MANY more for those inclined to search. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0304387825001087
Felix Grounds September 9, 2025 (5:08 am)

Because the third party cooperations that own and operate them (such as flock saftey) have zero accountability or restrictions on whom they share and distribute the collected data to. Taxpayers would be footing the bill to create a widespread, AI driven, citizen tracking network. We have enough “Big Brother” in our lives.

RS September 8, 2025 (8:49 am)

Was this associated with an insanely loud revving car going 60+ in North Admiral around maybe 12:45? It woke me up, sounded like a jet engine.

John S September 8, 2025 (9:30 am)

The occurrences of gunfire in & near the Alki area this summer seem to be more and more frequent this year … closing the beach down doesn’t seem to have done anything to solve this issue. All it did was penalize the non criminals of Seattle who may want to enjoy the warmer evenings walking the beach. Although this approach seems very common though which is to penalize the rule following law abiding citizens with new made up rules that don’t ever really truly address the actual issues at hand at all then try another failed approach. Maybe they need to figure out what’s attracting the criminals to Alki in the first place? Are they even W Seattle residents ? If not, then why are they brining their criminal conduct to this area specifically? At this rate when officers aren’t actively on a call or on a lunch break then they should be consistently patrolling Alki with their emergency lights on from dusk until dawn. That should be enough of a deterrent until summer is over. Has the council member responsible for W Seattle made any comments about the summer gunfire in Alki?

Anne September 8, 2025 (11:25 am)

Are you another person saying that the gunfire is coming from folks on the beach?? The beach -the sand-part right?? That is shut down- NOT the promenade-NOT the sidewalks & NOT the streets.
- John S September 8, 2025 (12:30 pm)
  
  @anne. I am saying the exact opposite. That the closure of the beach at night is not a true deterrent or true way to solve the unnecessary uptick in gun related incidents in Alki area. The city council, mayor & SPD need to come up with real solutions & do so now. Curfew on the beach & speed bumps clearly aren’t the real solution here as gun related incidents seems to be occurring more & more. Maybe more frequent patrols and/or stricter judges will be the long term solution here.

Marcus September 8, 2025 (9:42 am)

Why not? If admiral area has cars driving 60+ revving with limited mufflers in the dark of night and that is allowed nightly, then why not think that other or the same can fire off their guns. Does one lead to the other? Do not know, yet both are because of little or no area police patrolling. Anyone else getting tired of this or have the vast majority just accepted this as normal?

Runner September 8, 2025 (12:27 pm)

I am beyond frustrated with the lack of police presence on Alki. I honestly don’t know what has to happen to get them down here evenings and nights especially Friday, Saturday and Sunday. I believe that we are having the issues such as these because the trouble makers know they can get away with it. I am a supporter of our police and know that it’s a very difficult job, but I also feel like they avoid coming down here because they don’t want to open the can of worm’s mess that it is.

Arch Stanton September 8, 2025 (1:13 pm)

I live right here. Have seen these miscreants all summer (since May). It’s been antisocial behavior for 5 months now. I’ve posted about it before. Drinking, racing, burnouts, music so loud it shakes our floors. WHERE ARE THE POLICE?! These Hispanics will sit there with their matching decals on their trucks and party and race and shoot guns 2x a month, ALWAYS ON SUNDAY NIGHT. it’s not hard to find them, identify them, and know when they’ll be there. WHERE ARE THE POLICE?!?

Bill September 8, 2025 (1:44 pm)

Don’t worry. I’m sure when Katie Wilson gets elected it will all get better! ;)
BreadCats September 10, 2025 (8:24 am)

“These Hispanics”It really feels like you wanted to use a slur here.

Maria@Alki September 8, 2025 (2:26 pm)

Something has to be done for us Alki residents. Each of the last 5 summers it has become incrementally worse and worse. I really would like the addresses of the police leadership so that I could come play the sound we hear EVERY summer night and other periods weekends at midnight, 1am, 2am etc. Motorcycles blaring their music, cars and motorcycles revving their engines, and speeding. Let’s see if you like what we are forced to live with, while pay exorbitant city taxes. If we are to support the police, they need to do their job and we need our city council representative to represent us.

Alki resident September 8, 2025 (3:10 pm)

Maria why are you blaming police? They’re not making these decisions nor is this their fault. Are you not aware of who’s in charge of the city?
- WS Res September 8, 2025 (5:00 pm)
  
  I mean, people are always saying “we need to give the police more money so we can have a safer city,” so her point seems reasonable.
  - Alki resident September 8, 2025 (9:04 pm)
    
    That’s not what she’s saying. She’s blaming police for not doing anything about the noise and chaos. They can’t be everywhere. They’re short staffed and the system is catch and release.

Star55 September 8, 2025 (2:44 pm)

Another reason to have more cameras

Seattlite September 8, 2025 (6:35 pm)

Star55…I agree with you. If you’re not going against the law, cameras should not bother you.

Guy September 8, 2025 (2:49 pm)

Same group that has been there all summer. Breaking glass beer bottles on the sidewalk/bike path, shooting guns almost nightly (even during Saturday night’s stormy weather), and the noise they make is unacceptable.

Seattlite September 8, 2025 (6:34 pm)

Rob Saka where are you?

Rhonda September 8, 2025 (8:45 pm)

Silence from Bruce Harrell, another one-term Mayor.

1994 September 8, 2025 (10:30 pm)

Gun fire again?!!??? If the people firing guns all the time don’t knock it off we might have someone over on the east coast in a place called DC threaten us all with coming to our rescue! So knock off the antisocial behaviors, knock off your gun toting and gun firing actions and we will all be better off. We don’t want that east coast guy over here. Having cameras on Alki might be helpful to our local people.