WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Gunfire in Highland Park (updated Thursday)

11:21 PM: After 911 calls about possible gunfire in Highland Park, SPD has found someone who says they were shot at while in their vehicle, which has two bullet holes through the window(s). Police are now looking for the scene where it happened, which was reported to be a few blocks from where they found the victim, possibly near 11th SW and SW Cloverdale. No description yet of the shooters, except that they had guns “with lasers on them.”

11:34 PM: Officers just told dispatch they’ve found the scene where the shots were fired – one casing, one bullet so far, just south of SW Cloverdale on 11th.

5 PM THURSDAY: We’ve obtained the report narrative from SPD:

On 12/03/2025, at 2305 hours, uniformed Seattle Police patrol officers responded to the area of 8400 block of 12 Ave SW to investigate a report of several shots heard, called in by multiple callers. Additional information stated there were vehicles heard speeding away.

When officers arrived they conducted an area checked, but did not initially locate a scene and or a victim. Officers received information that a possible victim had fled on a vehicle, southbound on 12 Ave SW, towards SW Henderson St. Officers checked that area and located a victim, with his vehicle, at 15 Ave SW/SW Henderson St. The victim was identified as XXXX X. XXXX-XXXX, and his vehicle a gray 2009 Honda Civic sedan, baring license plate WA XXXXXXX.

XXXX advised officers he was driving north on 11 Ave SW, heading towards SW Cloverdale St, when he encountered several cars parked on the street, with multiple people around the cars. As he drove past the subjects and their vehicles he saw lasers then heard gunshots. He then fled the scene. XXXX reported he was not injured.

Officers inquired if XXXX knew the subjects, and XXXX advised he did not know anyone of the subjects. XXXX also advised he was unable to see what the subjects looked like, and could not provide a description, nor was he able to describe any of the vehicles they were with. XXXX further advised he has no problems with anyone, and does not know why anyone would shoot at him.

When officers spoke to XXXX they observed gunshot damage to his vehicle, consisting of a total of two bullet holes. The rear windshield had taken a hit, with a bullet entry hole to the center right, and the front right passenger’s side got hit, with a bullet entry hole near the front door frame.

Officers responded to the area XXXX said he got shot at, and discovered that the actual scene was inside the driveway of Highland Park Elementary school, located at 1012 SW Trenton St. The scene was not on the street, as XXXX claimed, but in the driveway path of the school, within the school property (on the west side), that came off of 11 Ave SW and was in a north/south direction. Officers found a total of 13 rounds, scattered along the driveway path. There were XXXX casings, XXXX spent XXXX casings and XXX unspent XXXX bullet. Officers search the area of the school but did not find any property damage to the school and or anything else in the surrounding area.

Based on the location of the driveway and the shell casings, relative to the driveway and the damage to XXXX’s windshield, it appeared XXXX’s vehicle was traveling southbound, contradicting his statement that he was driving northbound. The shell casings were scattered from north to south in the driveway, with a concentration of the casings being located along a retaining wall that was located on the west side of the driveway. The retaining wall would’ve made it unlikely that the shooter was standing against that wall, and the driveway also descended in a dip, elevated below the street (11 Ave SW). This indicated the gun was pointing directly to the south when it was fired, and ejecting the shell casings to the west, making them land along the retaining wall.

Officers photographed, collected and submitted the casings into evidence. Officers also photographed the damage to XXXX’s car.

17 Replies to "WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Gunfire in Highland Park (updated Thursday)"

  • KayK December 4, 2025 (7:40 am)

    We heard multiple shots fired, maybe 8-10.

    • datamuse December 4, 2025 (9:33 am)

      Same. Think I heard some engine noise and tires screeching, too.

  • mem December 4, 2025 (9:18 am)

    Two nights in a row? Who are these guys?

  • JonD December 4, 2025 (9:47 am)

    Any update about whether this was targeted or random?  Or connected to the shots fired a few blocks away the night before?  This is all very concerning taking place right in front of the elementary school.

    • Derp December 4, 2025 (10:08 am)

      That’s good the school is closed at night,  when these shots are taking place. 

    • WSB December 4, 2025 (10:53 am)

      I’ve requested last night’s narrative but it may not include much more than the basics we reported as they were happening. They test found bullets/casings to see if they can match other cases, or be a match to guns found past/future, but that’s not the kind of result that would be in this quick.

      • WAWA December 4, 2025 (11:39 am)

        Thank you! It’s hard to tell if crime in Highland Park is up YoY, but between the two recent shootings this week and the runner attack at the start of November it is a bit unsettling as someone who has lived in the neighborhood for the last 5 years.

      • JonD December 4, 2025 (11:47 am)

        Got it – thanks for your thorough coverage.  It’s really appreciated!  This blog a such a helpful resource.

  • Jodilyn December 4, 2025 (10:17 am)

    I live right where this all happened and it sounded like fireworks, particularly because there were so many (often times folks light off fireworks under the covered play area of the school for the loudness factor). This all happened so fast and the cop cars were there and gone just as quickly, even with a said person shot in a vehicle.

  • Tony December 4, 2025 (11:35 am)

    Paging Rob Saka, Councilman Rob Saka from West Seattle to his district PLEASE

    • Seattlite December 4, 2025 (12:58 pm)

      Rob’s pager is on silent mode so he cannot hear our cries for help.

  • WSB December 4, 2025 (5:06 pm)

    Report narrative added above.

    • Jodilyn December 4, 2025 (6:14 pm)

      Thanks for providing the narrative report. I’m literally 50 feet from the school driveway these shots were fired from. It would be beneficial if the school district/security personnel would lock the swing gates during non-school hours to prevent folks from driving down to this area. It happens far too often that they drive down there since it’s more private than the street itself. Scary to say the least. 

    • JonD December 4, 2025 (6:34 pm)

      Thank you very much.

  • Steph December 4, 2025 (10:21 pm)

    Found this post after hearing what sounded like gunshots Thursday night 10 pm several blocks from this site. Sounds like this area needs a purge of thugs. What happened to the gang units and the drug policing? 

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