WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Gunfire investigation on Alki

| Crime | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

8:40 PM: Police have responded to a report of suspected gunfire on Alki, near 61st SW and Alki Avenue SW. No injuries reported. But dispatch told them at least two callers reported finding shell casings behind the building on the southeast corner. They are also reported to be questioning three possible suspects at 61st/Admiral.

(WSB photos)

8:57 PM: Adding photos from our crew in the area. Above, the scene where the three were stopped; below, a few of the casings in the street on 61st:

9:27 PM: And here’s our photo of police as they started marking the casings with cards. Double digits, according to our photographer:

We haven’t heard any confirmation of whether any of the people stopped and questioned were arrested or not. … The same area was sprayed with gunfire back in March.

Alki June 11, 2026 (8:43 pm)

Sounded like a tec-9. 3 bursts, right around 8:18, then a pop later

Skeptic June 11, 2026 (9:32 pm)

I heard three bursts of four rounds all back to back from 51st. Very obviously gunfire. I’m guessing it was a Glock with a switch since no people were hit. I hope.
- Rhonda June 11, 2026 (10:14 pm)
  
  A Glock with a switch sounds like a busted chainsaw more than gunfire. Vehicles fitting those descriptions sped by me southbound on Fauntleroy in front of Lincoln Park with their lights off just minutes before I read this.

John June 11, 2026 (8:44 pm)

We called it on as they ran right past us and pulled their gun on 59th ave SW b/w Stevens and Admiral. We informed them of this area as well so there may also be shell casings in the area.

WS Person June 11, 2026 (8:55 pm)

A cop just talked to my son as he was pulling out and asked if he heard gunshots and told him the just arrested some people.

Alki living June 11, 2026 (9:00 pm)

We called it in at when we were safely at 61st/admiral. We passed the folks 30 seconds before it happened.

G June 11, 2026 (9:01 pm)

I was out on a walk and my kid (who plays Call of Duty) was sure they heard gunfire and was about to call me to make sure I was ok. Why must this happen on Alki every summer?

Murph June 11, 2026 (9:25 pm)

Walked around the corner from Alki just as they started. I agree with Alki. 3 automatic bursts. Quick. Grey Prius with tinted window darted out of there headed east along the water. A black Mercedes whipped down the alley going west a minute later.

Shadowtripper June 11, 2026 (9:29 pm)

Cameras would go a long way in identifying the street criminals that continually endanger us. Random shooting or specific targets, it doesn’t really matter. They should face extended jail time for use of a firearm endangering the public. I just can’t find a solid reason for not having our City cameras turned on or adding more to high crime areas. I love Alki but it has lost its feeling of a great place to live. At least during the summer months.

Derp June 12, 2026 (7:11 am)

Please do some research on why the cameras are not allowed. It has been covered here MANY TIMES

Anonymous June 11, 2026 (9:44 pm)

They appear to not have found all the people. There was at least a dark grey Tesla pursuing the silver Prius.

Dan June 12, 2026 (12:23 am)

If you have any additional information, it might be crucial to inform the police if you haven’t already. Your vehicle description matches the description of a vehicle involved in an armed robbery that was just reported here on WSB. WSB Story Link

David Wheeler June 11, 2026 (9:56 pm)

I was out for a walk approaching the Alki playfield when I heard automatic gunfire. As i walked past the field, families and kids were playing there like no big deal. Unbelievable. It was 10-12 minutes before i saw police cruisers heading towards the area.

Kyle Pepperpants June 11, 2026 (10:06 pm)

It’s not officially summer until we have a shooting at Alki. Happy summer!

WS life June 11, 2026 (10:15 pm)

We were at a restaurant with out-of-town guests right next to where this happened. South Korea had just scored the first goal in the World Cup game against Czechia. This is not acceptable. Put cameras on Alki.

Pleading for this to stop June 11, 2026 (10:37 pm)

I agree cameras would definitely deter these criminals
- Jake June 12, 2026 (8:57 am)
  
  Cameras don’t prevent guns. The guns will just be fired in other neighborhoods. Root cause gun control law is the only way, we can’t just put cameras in rich areas and move the crime to the poorer ones.
  - LOL June 12, 2026 (11:41 am)
    
    I’m laughing because we already have so many gun control laws. Do you really think criminals care about laws? Look at past incidents where WSB posts details about the past history of someone recently caught. Every time – there is a documented history that our current laws prove they shouldn’t have had access to a gun. So please spare us with the more gun laws bs
    - WSB June 12, 2026 (2:26 pm)
      
      Actually, no. Most recent case we covered was the arrest of the guy who legally owned multiple guns,had a concealed weapons permit too, went to buy bullets, and fired his gun in multiple incidents before being arrested. (He’s in jail still, nine days later, $5,000 bail for three misdemeanor charges of aiming/discharging a firearm.
  - Mike June 12, 2026 (2:24 pm)
    
    If only we had guns laws against what happened… Oh, we do, the criminals don’t care. It’s almost like there needs to be something else…like… penalizing PEOPLE who do bad things.
- K June 12, 2026 (12:46 pm)
  
  There is literally evidence that cameras do not prevent crime. You don’t have to speculate, or confidently assert a position that has already been disproven. It has been linked on these boards before. It has been researched several times, and is an accepted fact that cameras do not prevent crime. The only people who say otherwise are the ones trying to sell cameras to you.
  - dwg June 12, 2026 (12:56 pm)
    
    Do they help in the apprehension and successful prosecution of criminals?
    - K June 12, 2026 (3:21 pm)
      
      No, for the umpteenth time. Solve rates have remained the same in jurisdictions after cameras were installed. I have linked studies about this in so many other threads. Please search it or look it up yourself. Trying using all the energy you’re spending being wrong on actually getting the facts this time.
    - dwg June 12, 2026 (11:13 pm)
      
      Well, here in Seattle, our police department achieved an 86% homicide clearance rate after integrating new CCTV cameras and a Real-Time Crime Center, a substantial jump from 57% the prior year.
  - WS Life June 12, 2026 (1:23 pm)
    
    How does it not prevent the next crime if you arrest someone who committed a crime like this and is likely to do it again? Do explain. Also, do provide the evidence that installing cameras moves crime into poorer neighborhoods. Especially if you’re claiming that cameras don’t work for prevention in the first place.
  - CarDriver June 12, 2026 (2:38 pm)
    
    K. You’ve let every business establishment know they’re wasting their time with cameras in their businesses and they never result in a thief’s apprehension and in fact they’re infringing on your rights. You’ve told homeowners their ring cameras are a scam that infringes on rights and never result in an arrest?
- KT June 12, 2026 (12:58 pm)
  
  Cameras may not deter crimes but they darn sure could help in arresting those committing crimes and at least those individuals will be deterred!
Sonja June 12, 2026 (1:09 pm)

Cameras didn’t stop the man from almost being beheaded in Belfast recently or Henry Novak from being stabbed to death in Britain. Please post an example of how government cameras have ever stopped an in-progress violent crime.

1994 June 11, 2026 (10:50 pm)

Credible threats? Isn’t that the buzz for turning on the downtown CCTV cameras? West Seattle has credible threats almost daily….. with gunfire that may be random or may not be random. Sadly just another nice evening in West Seattle. Shadowtripper, above, has good ideas . Some of our elected officials, whom I won’t vote for even if no one is running against them, should explore some of Shadowtripper’s ideas.

Alki Living June 12, 2026 (9:21 am)

When I called 911, they said it would be a bit before folks got out there because they “had a lot of calls” even though I called 30 seconds after it happened, was a little disappointed a cruiser wasn’t closer to Alki on a 70 degree sunny evening…So many families were playing on the beach and at Whale’s Tale…

WSB June 12, 2026 (11:00 am)

They were potentially short people last night, even from the “normal” levels – earlier in the day a call went out over the air for Southwest Precinct needing four to “augment,” which means work OT to bring whichever precinct up to “normal” for the shift in question.
- dwg June 12, 2026 (11:24 am)
  
  now i’ve got the Randy Newman song in my head

Sam June 12, 2026 (12:28 pm)

I knew I heard three gunshots last night. Unmistakable. I’m from Texas and thought I’d be dealing with less gun violence in Seattle. But summer’s here and Alki once again becomes the Wild Wild West.

JcA June 12, 2026 (2:28 pm)

Need cops on foot/bicycles: hanging out and visible. Need judges that jail people when guns used. Period.

Shadowtripper June 13, 2026 (6:54 am)

The argument that cameras move crime into poor areas doesn’t hold water. It’s like saying that not enforcing current automobile license tabs, allowing free rides on public transportation, not enforcing vehicle noise ordinances and turning juveniles and adult criminals loose after repeated offenses is a racial or economic thing. Cameras do not stop crime, but they do provide evidence to support convictions of those that break the law. Those that push back against cameras have never been threatened or robbed on our streets.

Pookie June 15, 2026 (9:14 am)

Cameras could help us lock these criminals up.

Grilled Cheese June 17, 2026 (10:10 am)

I live over by 35th and Holden. So last night, I had my window open and suddenly heard a car zooming by at what must’ve been over 100 mph, with about ten cops chasing after it. Does anyone know what that was about?

Sorry, comment time is over.