WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Alki Avenue early-morning gunfire, with 70+ casings (updated Friday afternoon)

5:58 AM: Thanks for the tip. Police radio archives confirm that evidence of gunfire was found in the 1100 block of Alki Avenue SW – near Luna/Anchor Park – after 911 calls around 3 am. That included bullets going through at least one residential window, and casings found on the ground. No injuries reported.

2:54 PM: Here’s the police summary:

On 08/21/26, residents in the area of 1100 Block of Alki AV SW phoned 911 to report shots fired between two people. Officers arrived on scene and discovered 70+ casings of multiple calibers in the area to include a spring from an extended magazine. Property damage to a residence across the street was also discovered, no injuries found inside.

Mike August 21, 2026 (6:08 am)

Bring the gang unit back, it worked

Ruckus August 21, 2026 (7:36 am)

Year after year, I read that the police scooped up bullet casings from WS shootings. But can the casings link guns from different crime scenes? Apparently, yes. ChatGPT informs me that police can sometimes link casings from different crime scenes to the same firearm. When a gun fires, its firing pin, breech face, extractor, ejector, and other components can leave microscopic marks on the casing. Investigators can compare those markings to casings recovered at different scenes. And that analysis can establish that casings were likely fired by the same firearm.”How often is the same gun being used in WS shootings? Is SPD actually analyzing the cases? This resident would like to know.

WSB August 21, 2026 (10:40 am)

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Yes, and you don’t need AI to tell you that. We’ve reported it before, multiple times.
- Mike August 21, 2026 (11:22 am)
  
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  I’m always amazed at how little society knows about investigating crimes and then questions SPD like it’s Barney Fife and Mayberry.
CarDriver August 21, 2026 (11:08 am)

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WSB is correct. Law enforcement has had, and utilized a database that has casing data from any gun crime. They’ve had that ability for many years and yes they do utilize that information. Just because law enforcement doesn’t report out every step they take to solve a crime doesn’t mean they aren’t utilizing every tool in their toolbox.
WSZombie August 21, 2026 (2:38 pm)

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From a shooting earlier this year, I pulled three bullet rounds out of my house and picked up four shell casings. I called the detective working the case to see if they wanted them. They never called back. I left two messages about it and got zero response. There was even a victim that got his.

Marcus August 21, 2026 (9:02 am)

Police could stop this in as little as a week if they were only to stop vehicles with minor infractions. Tail lights, license with automatic readers and illegal window tinting and proper turn signal use. Just a simple change in police focus would halt so many instances. Yet city leaders are hesitant to proceed because of a loud minority of Seattle residents. Time to change focus or continue to risk the innocent.

Dual Plates August 21, 2026 (1:33 pm)

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Agree. Another is requirement of a front license plate.
Mark M August 21, 2026 (2:03 pm)

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I’d like to see fines for expired tabs and car inspections for tab renewal come back. Also “prove it” window tint and exhaust tickets. Temporary suspension of license for driving without or heavily concealed plates.
Also John August 21, 2026 (3:47 pm)

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Absolutely agree! Lately I’m seeing vehicles with no plates. Yes I look at the back window. Seems an obvious reason why no identification. I thought we had a tint law?! In the 80’s I remember police pulling car over and ticketing if the tint was too dark. What happened with that? Sometimes I can’t even see a driver.

Connor August 21, 2026 (12:58 pm)

I was woken up shortly past 3am from a car that had to be doing 100+ mph down harbor Ave toward the bridge. Cars are always speeding but this was way faster than the usual idiot. Maybe linked? Running from the scene? Dude had it pinned and wasn’t lifting. Just a tip in case that driver is linked to it I’m sure there’s a camera that maybe got a plate image.

Jack August 21, 2026 (2:48 pm)

I talked with an officer who came out in the early morning about 7AM. He was there looking for anymore shell casings in the daytime. Yes he found some, so did a neighbor woman. Because I live close to the site he asked if we had a camera that might show the sight. We do, but with all the movement on Alki Ave. we had the motion sensor turned off. Camera’s, noise camera’s, speed camera’s etc. are needed. They Help the police do their job and protect citizens.

K August 21, 2026 (3:00 pm)

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Those cameras have all been studied, multiple times, and proven to not reduce crime rates, or impact solve rates. Your assertion is demonstrably untrue.
Mark M August 21, 2026 (3:24 pm)

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I won’t pretend to have deep knowledge of this topic. On the surface I agree that cameras would help cops catch criminals like this. However, it would likely be a double edged sword as you can solve one issue (gangs/domestic violence) but create another (police state, gov tracking, big brother, etc). The later is no longer just conspiracy, cameras throughout the nation are being “redeployed” for use cases not of the original advertised intent. Some folks have good intentions but history shows some folks do not. And what happens when someone in power does not have good intentions and has access to a wide network of cameras.