West Seattle, Washington
19 Friday
7:26 PM MONDAY: Police responding to multiple calls about suspected gunfire have confirmed it: Officers just told dispatch they’ve found “several casings so far” in the south parking lot of Westcrest Park. No reports of injuries.
12:25 PM TUESDAY: We’ve obtained the police-report narrative, though two points of interest – the number of casings and types – were redacted by SPD, along with names as usual, but the narrative does clarify where exactly the gunfire happened:
On 12/15/2025 at approximately 19:13 I responded to several reports of shots fired in the area of Westcrest Park located at 8800 8th Ave SW in the city of Seattle, county of King. Initial remarks stated, “10 SHOTS FROM 2 WEAPONS, 2 WEAPONS, NOTHING ELSE HEARD, TO THE NORTHEAST”. Multiple callers reported hearing the shots in the area and reported the following to dispatch:
“SOUTH OF 4 SHOTS AND THEN RAPID FIRE 1 MIN AGO, NOTHING ELSE SEEN/HEARD”
“ANOTHER COMPL REPORTING 8 SHOTS HEARD POSSIBLY FROM WESTCREST PARK, NOTHING ELSE HEARD OR SEEN”
“ANOTHER REPORTING HEARING RAPID GUN SHOTS 3 MINS. SOUNDED LIKE MACHINE GUNS COMING FROM WESTCREST PARK”
“ANOTHER CALLER REPORTING HEARING 3-4 SHOTS FROM A HANDGUN AND THEN RAPID FIRE FROM AN AUTOMATIC WEAPON AT 1911. SOUNDED LIKE IT CAME FROM WESTCREST PARK. RP IS AT xxxx AND CAUGHT THE SOUND ON CAMERA BUT NOTHING SEEN”
Others called in as well reporting the same as the above listed callers. I responded to the southern parking lot of Westcrest park where I know, based on my experience in this area, shootings have occurred before. I located several casings on the ground in this area. The casings were all grouped relatively close together on the blacktop near the path leading to the community garden at this end of the park. My backing officers assisted me in XXXX XXXX near the fired casings. I photographed the scene and each individual casing. Each XXXX was XXXX with a XXXX XXXX and XXXX into an XXXX XXXX which was then XXXX with the XXXX XXXX XXXX and XXXX of XXXX. The photographs have been uploaded to AxonCapture. The casings consisted of XXXX XXXX XXXX casings and XXXX XXXX casings. The XXXX were all branded “XXXX” and the XXXX were branded “XXXX XXXX” or XXXX.
The immediate area was canvassed but no victims or bullet damage were located. None of the callers reported having sustained injury or damage from gunfire. One caller had reported capturing audio of the shooting on video.
8:34 AM: The missing man’s family just told us he’s been found safe in South Park.
Earlier:
Two City Council meetings today had SPD in the spotlight:
2025 CRIME STATS: When the Public Safety Committee met in the morning – as mentioned in our daily event list – the biggest agenda item was SPD’s year-in-review update, including a look at crime/safety trends through the end of November. First, here’s the meeting video – the SPD item is 47 minutes in:
Here’s the slide deck that accompanied their briefing. Among the slides, this one mentioned a drop in several crime categories:
Of the homicides that did happen – so far this year, none in West Seattle – SPD says they’re solving more of them:
Gunfire has been an area of concern, here and elsewhere, throughout the year. In the lower right corner of the next slide, SPD lists the top 10 neighborhoods for shots-fired incidents, and none are in West Seattle:
One other slide of note – SPD says its hiring is still going well:
POLICE CONTRACT VOTES: In the afternoon, the full City Council voted to approve two SPD contracts. Here’s the meeting video:
The documents are linked from the agenda. The Seattle Police Management Association contract was approved unanimously, while the Seattle Police Officers Guild contract was approved by a vote of 6 to 3, according to District 1 Councilmember Rob Saka, who was one of the three “no” votes. He explains in part:
I approached this contract with two priorities: keeping our community safe and making sure our systems are worthy of your trust. That means strong response options, clear expectations, and accountability that works.
This agreement offered some positive movement, but it did not meet those standards. It also came with a significant cost increase to the city, even though Seattle Police Department (SPD) officers already are and would have remained the highest paid officers in the entire state, with or without the deal.
Seattle deserves a contract that strengthens transparency and gives civilian oversight agencies the tools they need to do their job. This proposal left too many gaps, especially around investigations and consistency in discipline. Those gaps weaken trust, and we cannot afford that.
Read Councilmember Saka’s full explanation, in an email newsletter, here.
11:56 PM: Police arrested a woman found inside a West Seattle Junction business to which they responded tonight when a possible burglary was reported. According to police radio, 911 got a call that someone was seen on live video inside Top Pot Doughnuts around 10 pm, five hours after closing time. Officers told dispatch they found a 21-year-old woman inside the store who had apparently fallen asleep in a restroom while the shop was still open. Whether any evidence of a burglary was actually found is unclear, but they arrested the woman after finding she was the subject of two misdemeanor warrants from Tukwila, and took her to the SCORE jail in Des Moines. We’ll follow up with SPD in the morning.
ADDED 11:34 AM: Here’s the narrative we obtained from SPD:
At approximately 2217 hours, I was dispatched to Top Pot Donuts located at 4709 California Av Sw for a burglary that was being reported by their alarm company. Initial remarks on the call stated “BURG ALARM, FRONT DOOR MOTION/REGISTER MOTION, XXXX TRIP/2203, UNK MALE SEEN ON CAMERA STANDING BY THE REGISTER, UNK WEAPONS.’
At approximately 2225 hours, I arrived in the area with Officers XXXX (3-William-12), XXXX and XXXX (3-William-31), XXXX and XXXX (3-Frank-2). A female, identified herself as XXXX, was found to be locked inside the business and was unable to exit.
The business owner, XXXX XXXX, arrived at the location and was able to unlock the main entrance to allow Officers inside. I contacted XXXX and advised that Officers were audio/video recording prior to her explaining the following.
(She) was unaware of the current time but stated she had arrived at the location and was able to walk in through the front door. Once inside, she entered the single-use bathroom, where she proceeded to use the toilet and then washed her hair in the sink. (She) estimates that she was inside of the bathroom for about an hour.
When (she) exited the bathroom, she was unable to leave the premise because all of the doors, including the front door that she had entered, was locked. (Her) cellphone was dead but she located a landline that she used to call security. Security arrived at the location with Officers and confirmed that they had received a phone call from the business.
(she) stated she only walked around the premise to look for a way to exit, and did not take any items. (she) eventually admitted to eating a donut off of a speed tray and drinking some bottled juice. When asked about the merchandise on her person, she also admitted to taking them. Two beanies and a reusable bag were returned to the owner, who stated he wanted her to be trespassed from the location.
Officer XXXX spoke with the owner, XXXX, who confirmed that the business had closed hours prior at 1700 hours. The business is generally closed at 1700 hours with employees usually leaving at 1830 hours. XXXX stated that it was possible that (the woman) had entered the premise during business hours and that employees had not checked the bathroom prior to locking the doors. XXXX also stated that (she) may have entered at 2030 hours when the delivery man entered to drop donuts.
While locating (her) DOL information, a valid misdemeanor warrant for theft 3 was located out of Tukwila . The warrant was issued 04/26/2024 for $1,000.
Officer XXXX verified the warrant with Data. (she) was taken into custody and advised that she was under arrest for the warrant. I searched (her) incident to arrest at the hood of Officer XXXX’s patrol vehicle. Officer XXXX read her Miranda. Officer XXXX transported (her) from the scene to SCORE jail where she was booked without incident.
For the second time today, SPD has announced a West Seattle community meeting. This time, it’s part of a series called “Our City, Our Safety 2026,” with one meeting per month for 10 months, in 10 neighborhoods around the city; the third will be held at Alki Bathhouse (2701 Alki SW), 6 pm Wednesday, March 11. From the announcement:
… What differentiates this series is how the information will be used and, eventually, shared back with stakeholders. At the first of two annual meetings in each Seattle precinct, police officials – including Chief Shon Barnes and each precinct captain – will present information and gather feedback and ideas from attendees. And at the second meeting, they will share results, lessons learned, unexpected impacts, and other updates to continuously improve and create accountability. …
What can you expect?
The Seattle Police Department and Department of Neighborhoods designed a 90-minute meeting that combines the best of a town hall with the best of a neighborhood watch program. Participants will have the chance to hear directly from police officials and each other. The meeting also features a roundtable portion where they can have more in-depth conversations about urgent concerns to try to co-develop solutions or examine the department’s past efforts.
… The concept is grounded in research that indicates that when residents come together with police to discuss their concerns, solutions, and ideas, they can create collaborative safety strategies that truly reflect the unique needs of each neighborhood. The series is designed to complement the Seattle Police Department’s current efforts, including its active advisory councils such as the West Seattle Advisory Council, the LGBTQ Advisory Council, and the Belltown Advisory Council and local business engagements such as Coffee with a Cop. …
You can see the full announcement here.
Every few months, the Southwest Precinct Advisory Council – local police and community-group reps, plus whoever else shows up – meets to talk and hear about West Seattle/South Park crime/safety concerns. The date has just been announced for the next one: Tuesday, January 13, 6:30 pm, at the precinct (2300 SW Webster). No official agenda yet, but if you’re interested in going, set your calendar now. (Here’s our coverage of the previous SWPAC meeting in October.)
1:55 PM: Thanks for the tips. Police have blocked off the area around the Southwest Precinct – including taping off SW Webster, as the photo shows – and are searching for someone in the area. They’ve also called in the Arson and Bomb Squad. This all started with the discovery of something that officers themselves described over the air only as something “suspicious”; they’re looking for someone related to it, seen on cameras around 12:44 pm. More information when we get it.
1:58 PM: SPD spokesperson Det. Eric Muñoz tells WSB that they’re investigating a “suspicious device” found near the flagpole outside the precinct.
2:45 PM: According to radio, the Arson Bomb Squad is “clearing out” and the precinct will reopen.
6:55 PM: Here’s the summary from SPD:
On 12/6/25, just after 1:00 p.m., an unknown suspect placed what appeared to be a military ordnance mine in front of the Southwest Precinct along with a camera. Arson/Bomb Squad (ABS) responded and determined the device to be an imitation device. ABS recovered the device and the camera. This is an open and active investigation assigned to ABS.
If you have any information, the case # is 2025-357373.
(Added: Reader photo. Alaska House is building on the left)
11:12 AM: Thanks for the tips. The situation that’s been unfolding this past hour at the Alaska House apartments in The Junction (on 42nd just north of Junction Plaza Park) started with a report of gunfire in an apartment and a man threatening people, in what’s described as a domestic-violence situation. Police have one suspect in custody and found “live rounds” plus at least one bullet hole in an apartment on the 8th floor. A gun was recovered, according to police radio. More info as we get it.
11:23 AM: So far, police have reported finding a shotgun but not the pistol they believe the suspect fired (the rounds that were found were described as .22). No injuries reported but medics were called to check out a pregnant woman who was one of the people allegedly threatened.
TUESDAY UPDATE: Police have confirmed that the other gun was found by a worker in the building. Meantime, while we’re still awaiting probable-cause documents, we do know from the jail roster that the 67-year-old suspect’s bail was set today at $250.000.
ORIGINAL SUNDAY REPORT: Several texters asked about an emergency response at Rotary Viewpoint Park (35th SW and SW Alaska) this morning. According to SFD and SPD radio recordings and logs, 911 got a call around 8:15 this morning about a person who had died in a tent. Upon arrival, responderd confirmed the death. That’s all we know so far; the King County Medical Examiner’s Office has removed the body, and we’re checking with police about the case.
MONDAY UPDATE: Police responded to our inquiry today. While we’re still awaiting information from the Medical Examiner – which could come as soon as today’s weekday update around 3 pm – the police report says the man who died was 37 years old; likely overdosed, based on drug paraphernalia around his body; and had probably been dead two or three days. Police added, “(Name redacted) does not appear to have any next of kin to notify of his passing.”
MONDAY UPDATE #2: He does not appear to be on today’s ME list.
TUESDAY UPDATE: Today’s ME list identifies him as 37-year-old Michael J. Rissler. Though the police report says the apparent cause of death was overdose, the ME report says formal determination of cause/manner of death is still pending.
ORIGINAL SATURDAY REPORT: Thanks to the reader who texted the photo and report of crews replacing this utility pole in the 6600 block of Fauntleroy Way SW [vicinity map]. It was reported hit by a driver at 2:30 am; we heard the dispatch but the pole was not initially reported compromised, the street was not reported blocked, and the driver was reported unhurt. Reviewing subsequent radio exchanges, police were investigating the driver for possible DUI.
ADDED MONDAY: We confirmed with police that the 27-year-old man driving the car that hit the pole, a 2025 Audi, was arrested on suspicion of DUI. According to the police-report narrative, he was alone in the car and unable to tell them where he had been coming from and where he was living or staying; he had a Washington, D.C. driver license and gave what appears to be a South Park addressed when also asked where he was going, though he was driving in the opposite direction. The officer writing the report also noted he “had no shirt on.”
5:29 PM: Police are investigating an incident in Morgan Junction this afternoon which has led to the principal of Gatewood Elementary sending an FYI to families. First, here’s principal Kyna Hogg‘s note, forwarded to us by multiple Gatewood parents:
Dear Gatewood Families and Staff,
I wanted to let you know about an incident that occurred near Gatewood this afternoon and to remind everyone about safety when walking home from school.
At approximately 3:30 p.m., the Seattle Police Department received a report that a man was following two girls walking along California Ave. Community members who witnessed the situation intervened and told the girls to run, which they did. Police responded quickly and took the man into custody.
At this time, the police have not identified the two girls involved, and there is no ongoing threat to our school community. If you believe your child may have been one of the students involved, please contact me so I can connect you with the investigating officers.
While this appears to have been an isolated incident, it’s a good opportunity to remind our students and families about safety when walking to and from school. Please take a few moments to review the following tips with your child:
-Walk with a friend or in a group whenever possible.
-Stay on main roads and sidewalks; avoid alleys or shortcuts.
-Be aware of your surroundings and avoid distractions such as phones or headphones.
-If someone makes you uncomfortable or follows you, run to a safe place (such as a nearby business or home) and ask for help.
-Report anything suspicious to a trusted adult or directly to the police.The district offers resources for students who walk or bike to school. If you are interested in having your student join a walking group, you can learn more on the district website.
We are grateful to the community members who acted quickly today and to the Seattle Police for their swift response. If you have any questions, please contact me directly.
A few more details from the police-radio exchanges about this: It was originally reported near California and Fauntleroy, The person who reported it to police was then apparently following the man in their car; police were told the man then stopped at 40th and Morgan and got out of his car, possibly to confront the follower. Police arrived and detained the man. They were also trying to find the girls who had run from him (they were described as white, blonde, slender, maybe around 12 years old). We have an inquiry out to find out if the man was actually arrested or just questioned. If you have any information on the incident, the SPD # is 2025-332513.
7:04 PM: We’ve just heard back from SPD, which says the man was not arrested, and provided the report narrative explaining why:
SUBJECT said that at 1455, he dropped his wife XXXX off at McDonalds for her shift. He dropped her off across the street from the McDonalds, turned around, and was about to go home when XXXX started yelling at him from her vehicle. SUBJECT was very confused, and thought this was a road rage incident.
SUBJECT said that he has no idea what XXXX is talking about with the two teenage girls, and said he was simply dropping his wife off at work.
Officers confirmed with XXXX that SUBJECT was only dropping her off for her shift at work.
I do not believe that SUBJECT was trying to abduct anybody. I believe this may [have] been XXXX believing that she saw suspicious behavior, and having an overly reactive emotional response.
4:13 PM: Seattle Police investigating 911 calls about possible gunfire in an alley in or near the 10400 block of 42nd SW have just reported finding at least one casing. A possibly related vehicle was described as a dark Audi SUV. No injuries reported. The first calls about this came in around 3:45 pm; an officer told dispatch about the casing at 4:10 pm.
ADDED WEDNESDAY EVENING: We obtained the narrative from SPD (which redacted names and some other details):
On 11/11/25, at 1544, I, XXXX XXXX, employed as a police officer, within the city of Seattle, when I was dispatched to a shooting call located at [10400 BLK] 42nd AV SW, in the alley to the west.
There was multiple 911 callers about this call.
Upon arrival of the listed location, I noticed a possible scene in the alley but there was no one to speak to. I did notice a camper in the driveway of the location, which I knocked on.
A female, XXXX, XXXX X, exited the camper and spoke to me. I noticed she had blood on her hand and her face, which she stated she was knocked down. XXXX further stated as she was walking her dog, she noticed two unk male, one with a face mask running towards her. As she turned to get away from them, one of them knocked her down and then proceeded to hear two-gun shots go off. XXXX stated she noticed a white or tan pick up truck and a black or dark color, possible Audi driving away from the alleyway.
XXXX was scene by Seattle Fire and was cleared to remain on scene.
As I was on scene, I did locate XXX shell casings within the alleyway. I photographed the shells before I collected them. These were later placed into SPD evidence.
During this time another shooting call came out at the Westwood village, SPD 25-331398. The caller to this call was identified as XXXX, who later showed up to the listed location, identified as XXXX, XXXX XXXX.
XXXX stated as she was within the garage at the listed location (also in the alleyway), she overheard what she believed gun shots. As she left the garage, she noticed a subject who she identified as “XX” chasing her boyfriend, XXXX, XXXX X. XXXX noticed XX holding a firearm. Both subjects got into their vehicles and drove away.
XXXX believed this incident was retaliation due to XXXX and XX had gotten into a physical altercation, possibly from SPD 25-313595. During this incident, no one was located.
As I spoke to XXXX, XXXX had called her and stated he did not want to speak to the police. As I got back to my vehicle, I noticed a white pick up driving up to the alleyway. I asked the driver if he was XXXX but he stated he was not.
I did find a neighbor with footage of the Audi speeding through the area, which was uploaded to axon.
I was able to review the video. I noticed as the possible Audi travel North bound in the alleyway. As it did so, an unknown subject fired shots. After the shots came out, an unknown subject is seen running towards the Audi in the alleyway.
Seattle Police have issued a citywide alert about scammers offering roof repairs, and we have one such report from a West Seattleite. First, here’s the SPD alert:
Seattle police detectives urge community members to be wary of fraudulent roofing and construction scammers that recently stole $74,000 from a Seattle resident.
On Oct. 27, a 53-year-old developmentally delayed victim living near the Ravenna neighborhood was approached by a man named “Frank,” asking if he wanted an estimate for a new roof. He then scammed the victim into writing him checks for $74,000 for a new roof.
“Frank” and his accomplice “Mark” have New York-style accents, and claim to work for Lakeside Roofing and Masonry.
After getting the money, the suspects dug a trench along the victim’s house under the guise of a cracked foundation. They also began deconstructing the victim’s roof under the guise of a potentially dangerous chimney.
The victim fears retaliation from the suspects for calling the police, as the suspects remain active in Seattle. Detectives are urging residents to be wary of anyone soliciting them for roofing, construction, or masonry work. They recommend the following tips to avoid being scammed:
-Get at least three estimates from different roofing companies.
-Don’t pay more than 1/3 of the agreed upon price upfront. Don’t pay anything more until the job is complete.
-Always ask for a written contract before any work is done, and only if the contractor needs it to purchase materials.
-Check the Better Business Bureau to confirm their legitimacy.
-Check with the Department of Revenue to ensure they have a Unified Business Identifier number.
-Ask for photos of jobs they’ve completed and check for their Yelp or Google ratings.
-Call 911 if they try to go onto your roof without permission.
-If elderly people are living alone, tell the scammers they need to speak with their adult children before making any decisions.
-Don’t feel pressured into making quick financial decisions.
-If you’re being told to give them money or their roof will suffer damages, call 911.Doing some due diligence will help deter the scammers from returning and asking for money.
Detectives in the General Investigations Unit are actively working this case. Anyone that may have fallen victim to these scams are asked to call 911, or the SPD Non-Emergency Line at 206-625-5011.
We’ve received one such report in West Seattle – Linda says this happened to a friend of hers last weekend:
Two people stopped at my friend’s house to let him know they were in the neighborhood working on a roof and said they saw something flapping on his roof which they could fix it for $20 (basically being very friendly and helpful). My friend gave them the go ahead as well as the $20.
Both individuals then proceeded to go up on the roof. When my friend heard a noise, he climbed up the ladder to see what was going on. He found one individual working as a lookout while the other one was causing actual damage to the roof. The “roofers” stopped at that point and came down off the roof. My friend did not get a license plate number or any information which he could use to report this to the police. So he’s now looking at a roof repair which will cost much more (but won’t be done by these scammers).
Per the SPD advice, even if you don’t have specifics like plate numbers, call police.
9:04 AM: Thanks to the reader who sent the photo with word of this flipped-car crash just before 3 am by Admiral Way Viewpoint. It was initially a “rescue extrication” callout but quickly downsized when it was determined no one had to be extricated from the one vehicle reported involved, a Kia Sorento. We’re following up with SFD and SPD.
2:18 PM: SFD says the only person it treated was a 13-year-old girl who was taken to a hospital by AMR ambulance. The initial radio exchanges also mentioned an adult at the scene; no SPD info yet.
3:39 PM: Apparently another case of SFD and SPD info conflicting. (SFD has said SPD usually has the updated info, so in case of conflict, to go with theirs.) SPD says the driver was a 33-year-old woman, apparently alone in the vehicle, taken to the hospital. The report details otherwise are not available in the system so we don’t have details on the crash’s suspected cause.
The Southwest Precinct (2300 SW Webster) is one of two Seattle Police precincts accepting dropoff disposals on this Drug Take-Back Day. Before 2 pm, go to the community room off the public parking lot, and you’ll find crime-prevention coordinator Matt Brown. He has some freebies too while they last, like secure drug lockboxes.
Dropped-off drugs had already filled two boxes when we stopped by and they had started a third.
12:31 PM: Sent by Providence Mount St. Vincent:
A patient from Providence Mount St. Vincent’s Transitional Care Unit left the facility this morning and has not returned.
The police have been notified, and our team is on the streets doing a search – but we need your help!
His name is Kristian, 51 years old, 6’1” tall.
He is wearing hospital gown pants, a dark sweatshirt (with front zipper) and dark color beanie.
Last time he was seen, he was carrying a cane and a hospital plastic bag.
3:30 PM UPDATE: A Mount spokesperson says, “We have been recently informed that there is a warrant for his arrest. If someone sees him, they should call 911.”
If you have expired or no-longer-needed medicine to get rid of, and aren’t sure where to do that with all the local drugstore changes, here’s an opportunity: This Saturday is the fall Drug Take-Back Day event. Again this time, the Southwest Precinct (2300 SW Webster) is one of two SPD precincts in the city participating. Take your items there 10 am-2 pm Saturday (October 25), no questions asked.
Every year, Seattle University circulates the Public Safety Survey, open for a month and a half, with findings provided to Seattle Police and used in planning. Today’s the first day the survey is open this year – here’s the announcement:
Seattle University is administering the annual citywide Seattle Public Safety Survey, which is accessible at publicsafetysurvey.org from October 15th through November 30th and is available in Amharic, Arabic, Chinese, English, Korean, Oromo, Somali, Spanish, Tagalog, Tigrinya, and Vietnamese. The purpose of the survey is to solicit feedback on public safety and security concerns from those who live and/or work in Seattle. A report on the survey results will be provided to the Seattle Police Department to help them better understand your neighborhood’s safety and security concerns and community-police dialogues will be held in May-August 2026 to provide opportunities for police-community engagement about the results. More information on the Seattle Public Safety Survey, which is part of the Seattle Police Department’s Micro-Community Policing Plans (SPD MCPP), can be found on the SPD MCPP website.
All available language versions are linked from the main survey page. It’s not a quick survey, so if you don’t have time right now, you can use our ShareThis link to send the story to yourself as a reminder)
MONDAY NIGHT: The weapon-waving incident reported here wasn’t the only police response in The Junction early this afternoon. Tonight SPD released this initial summary of what officers were told started as a scuffle over a sign:
At 1337 hours, a 71-year-old victim, who is of Jewish descent, was walking along the street when he saw a sign in support of Gaza on a light pole. The victim ripped the sign off the light pole. The suspect, a male in his 30’s, was walking dogs nearby and yelled at the victim and the victim yelled back at the suspect. The suspect then approached the victim and headbutted him in the face, causing significant facial injuries and knocking him to the ground. The suspect was calling the victim a “f—ing Zionist pig” during the attack. After the suspect headbutted the victim, he began to walk away. The victim got up and yelled at the suspect, asking him what his problem was. The suspect then turned toward the victim and walked at him aggressively. The victim, fearing he was going to be assaulted again, pepper sprayed the suspect. Regardless of being pepper sprayed, the suspect was able to knock the victim to the ground, get on top of him and repeatedly punch him in his face. The suspect only stopped when on-lookers intervened. The victim believed the assault was because of his religion.
We didn’t hear any of this in realtime so we just checked the audio archives. Over the publicly monitorable air, it was dispatched simply as a fight between two men near 42nd/Alaska. If you have information, the SPD incident # is 25-299777.
TUESDAY MORNING: We requested and obtained the report narrative from SPD. It reveals that a 38-year-old suspect was arrested:
On 10/13/2025, at 1332 hours I officer xxxx was dispatched to 4203 Alaska AVE SW, for an assault call.
When I arrived, I contacted ARRESTEE who stated he was assaulted by V/VICTIM. ARRESTEE stated V/VICTIM was tearing down GAZA posters on the north end corner of California Ave SW and SW Alaska ST near the closed Starbucks.
Arrestee stated while walking his dogs, he approached V/VICTIM tearing down a Gaza poster, resulting in ARRESTEE and V/VICTIM getting into a verbal disagreement arguing with each other. ARRESTEE STATED HE and V/VICTIM walked into each other during the argument causing them both to headbutt each other, leaving ARRESTEE with a laceration above his forehead. ARRESTEE declined any medical attention, but I still dispatched fire to make an assessment. SFD E #32 responded and evaluated him on-scene.
ARRESTEE stated after the headbutt, he turned the corner and walked east on SW ALASKA ST. ARRESTEE stated as he walked down SW ALASKA ST, V/VICTIM followed him so he turned around to confront him, that’s when V/VICTIM pepper sprayed him in the face. ARRESTEE stated due to being peppered sprayed, he was unable to keep grip of the dog leashes. ARRESTEE stated he then defended himself due to being pepper sprayed and was blindly swinging his fists, which resulted in a tussle between the two. ARRESTEE stated estimated number of times he struck V/VICTIM is around two strikes.
I contacted V/VICTIM, a 71-year-old Jewish male whose mouth was covered in blood, and his lips were swollen. V/VICTIM declined multiple requests for medical attention.
V/VICTIM stated as he tore down the GAZA poster on a public light pole, he did not agree with on the corner of California Ave SW and SW Alaska ST, he was confronted by ARRESTEE who called him a ‘ZIONIST PIG’. V/VICTIM stated the two began to have an argument resulting in a back and forth between words. V/VICTIM stated ARRESTEE then walked up towards him and headbutted him in the face, causing his mouth to bleed and lips to swell knocking V/VICTIM to the ground. V/VICTIM stated after the headbutt, he walked towards A/VICTIM following him east on SW ALASKA ST’S sidewalk asking ‘why did you hit me’
V/VICTIM stated as he was attempting to get ARRESTEE’S attention, ARRESTEE turned around and walked back aggressively towards him, closing the distance. VICTIM/VICTIM stated because he was already assaulted from the initial headbutt, he feared he would be assaulted again so he pulled out his pepper spray and sprayed ARRESTEE in the face to defend himself.
V/VICTIM stated after he used his pepper spray on ARRESTEE, ARRESTEE immediately knocked him down and began punching him in the head around six times.
V/VICTIM stated he believed ARRESTEE disengaged due to the pepper spray taking effect and bystanders yelling at them.
V/VICTIM stated he believed he was attacked because he is Jewish and during the assault ARRESTEE called him a ‘Zionist PIG’.
WITNESS/1 remained on scene and was contacted. WITNESS/1 stated he only witnessed the moment V/VICTIM was on the sidewalk and ARRESTEE was standing over him, punching him in the face. WITNESS/1 stated he attempted to break up the confrontation by screaming ‘stop’ multiple times.
WITNESS/1 stated he called 911 while grabbing the dog leash due to ARRESTEE losing control of the dogs.
WITNESS/1 stated he then walked ARRESTEE towards the entrance of XXXX XXXX located at XXXX SW Alaska ST as ARRESTEE asked for water to wash his face.
WITNESS/1 believes the only reason why ARRESTEE probably stopped assaulting V/VICTIM was due to the pepper spray taking effect.
I searched the area for any possible footage but was unable to locate any. I also asked two stores for any possible witness or footage, and both said the cameras are not facing the incident’s location
After I concluded my investigation, I determined ARRESTEE assaulted V/VICTIM due his perception of V/VICTIM being Jewish. V/VICTIM believed he was targeted because he is Jewish.
I placed ARRESTEE under arrest and read his Miranda rights. Officer XXXX #8599 searched him incident to arrest and transported ARRESTEE to KCJ where he was booked for investigation of Hate Crime.
(Both parties declined medical attention)
WITNESS/1and V/VICTIM provided an audio statement that was uploaded to Axon evidence. Photos of the injuries were also uploaded to Axon evidence.
The King County Jail roster shows the suspect is still there, held for investigation of hate crime.
7:22 PM TUESDAY: He has since been released; a King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office spokesperson says that “based on available information from police so far, there is insufficient evidence to show that the defendant was targeting the victim’s religion.”
12:42 PM: For those asking about “all the sirens” – police were responding to reports of a man “waving around a gun” near 42nd/Alaska. He was then tracked to the 7-11 at California SW and SW Erskine, where officers report they have one person in custody. No gunfire or injuries reported.
(Added: WSB photos)
12;53 PM: According to police radio, a witness has confirmed the man in custody is the man seen at 42nd/Alaska; they have probable cause to arrest him for investigation of felony harassment (which is a catch-all for various types of threats).
1:18 PM: The suspect is being taken to the King County Jail.
ADDED TUESDAY AFTERNOON: We’ve requested and obtained the police-report narrative on this, which reveals the “gun” was a lighter:
Multiple people called 911 to report the incident and that the suspect left going Southbound.
I spoke with the victim identified as XXXX. XXXX reported that he has a business nearby and saw the suspect later identified as ARRESTEE standing outside the QFC located at 4550 42 Ave SW. ARRESTEE was yelling at people inside the store. ARRESTEE then raised what look like a firearm and pointed it toward the QFC entrance and said ” come out, I’ll shoot you.” XXXX who was standing nearby was afraid that if the gun was real ARRESTEE would start shooting and could injury people inside the store and that XXXX himself could be injured if the suspect started to shoot.
XXXX reported he was unsure if the gun was real but believed it was possible that it was, and was in fear by the comments and action of ARRESTEE while holding the realistic looking firearm.
I spoke with QFC staff who reported the suspect ARRESTEE was attempting to steal merchandise from the store. The suspect left the merchandise in the store when confronted. ARRESTEE then exited the store and started yelling at staff. Staff reported they were not in fear by ARRESTEE yelling at them.
Officers located ARRESTEE nearby at the 711 store located at 4812 Erskine Way SW. Officers who located him had witnesses in the area point out ARRESTEE as the one threatening people with a firearm. ARRESTEE was placed under arrest and officers located a lighter that resembled a handgun.
XXXX was transported to the area where ARRESTEE was being contacted by officers. XXXX positively identified him as the same suspect who was threating to shoot people outside the QFC.
ARRESTEE was identified and booked for investigation of harassment.
Multiple officers were involved in the initial contact with ARRESTEE. Please see their statements for further details.
Officer XXXX #8599 took a voluntary recorded statement from XXXX. The statement was uploaded to evidence.com
ARRESTEE was transported and booked into KCJ for investigation of harassment without further incident.
Sergeant XXXX #8366 screened the arrest on scene.
I photographed the lighter that looked like a firearm arm and uploaded the photos to evidence.com. The lighter was packaged and submitted to evidence at the Southwest Precinct.
TUESDAY NIGHT: The suspect is still in jail, bail set at $7,500, although the docket seems to show those are bail amounts from earlier unrelated cases.
By Torin Record-Sand
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
About 50 people were in attendance as the Southwest Precinct Advisory Council had its fall gathering Tuesday night at Alki Masonic Hall in The Junction.
The crime-drop stats we’ve reported in coverage of many recent neighborhood meetings were mentioned, – particularly the Southwest Precinct’s status as the only precinct with no 2025 homicides – but much of this meeting focused on concerns voiced by neighbors and community advocates regarding the Westside Neighbors Shelter, the Triangle facility that remains West Seattle’s only emergency shelter. Many of the concerns had been aired at the shelter last Sunday at its open house and Q&A session (WSB coverage here), with shelter manager Keith Hughes in attendance. But he wasn’t at the Precinct Advisory Council meeting, where many community residents followed up on their concerns and expressed interest in how police might be able to address them.
Chris Mackay, a member of the council and executive director of the West Seattle Junction Association, said the problems facing the shelter felt overwhelming to the local community. “The shelter has done an amazing amount of work on volunteer hours, donating materials and money, but at this point, it’s clear they’re in way over their heads, and the impact on the community has been extreme.” She related a story about recently bringing in someone from an intervention group to take a look at the shelter and meet with one of the guests there, who walked them through a day in their life. They went with the person to Junction Plaza Park, where they met up with four other people who had been at the shelter that day, and, she said, all of them seemed to be in a clearly visible opiate-induced haze.
This was the main concern brought up at the meeting: that drug use and theft by some shelter users has spilled over into the broader surrounding community. Many attendees wondered what options were available to deal with the issue.
Wes Collier, the 2nd Watch Lieutenant for the precinct, was there to represent the voice of the police. “The best thing for SPD is to build a relationship with the shelter and understand what the goal is. We don’t want to shut it down, but we want it to be safely run and not affect the rest of the neighborhood.” He suggested that the community might have more impact in resolving issues if they effectively communicated with police when incidents occur. He suggested this could be as simple as calling 911 when appropriate to respond, or requesting police patrols via the SPD website. He also said that they recently started focusing on ongoing police patrols in the area around the shelter, with an emphasis vehicle visiting adjacent problem areas.
One community member was willing to put their foot forward in an attempt at proactive engagement with these community issues. Abi Harmon, a nearby resident, said she was working on being a point person for creating a “Good Neighbor Agreement” in coordination with the shelter and other local residents. Such an agreement would clarify the standards of the shelter, as well as creating standards and paths for communication with neighbors, and ways that each group can help the other. (If you would like to contact her about joining the group collaborating on the agreement in coordination with the shelter, you can email abiharmon at gmail.com.
From District 1 City Councilmember Rob Saka‘s office, district director Erik Schmidt was also in attendance. He emphasized that getting funding for either increased patrols or the shelter would require the public to make budget requests directly to the councilmember’s office. But, he said, none had come in. “Anyone can bring an ask to the office, but no one has so far.” Schmidt said that Councilmember Saka’s office would be receptive to anyone who would like to do so. He also said that recently, both he and Saka had asked for more emphasis patrols in the area for all hours of the day.
Rachel Porter, executive director for the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce, also was there as a member of the advisory council. She said she was in talks with shelter owner Hughes on how the community might be able to help the shelter
After almost an hour of discussion regarding the shelter situation, the topic changed – SPD offered an update on crime statistics for the Southwest precinct for the year. These were delivered by South Precinct Crime Coordinator Matt Brown, substituting for Jennifer Satterwhite, as she is on maternity leave.
These stats have been mentioned in multiple community meetings, but they were noted again here: Total crime cases for the Southwest Precinct are down by 16% year to date, going from around 3500 reported instances in 2024 to 2800 in 2025. Burglaries are down by 31%, and robberies are down 30% in the same period. Incidents of shots fired are also down, with 77 reported so far this year, down from 86 reports in 2024. Of these, seven had a wounded victim, with no fatalities. Brown wanted to put a special emphasis that still, to date, the Southwest Precinct remains the only precinct in Seattle with zero homicides in 2025.
After the report on statistics, a few more questions from the community:
One was regarding the usage of personal security cameras, and how they might be used as evidence for police cases, or to report incidents of crime. Lieutenant Collier said that any contribution from these would be an aid to the police. “You can share evidence with SPD. It takes all of us to make our community safer, including collaborating with SPD on evidence.” He pointed to the recently announced Connect Seattle program (renamed since our report last month, when it was the Community Camera Registry) where citizens can list cameras on their property so the police can request footage of them if needed for an ongoing case.
Another community member asked for an update on whether anything was being done to stop street racing on Alki and Harbor Avenue. Lieutenant Collier said that the precinct is currently holding meetings to plan for summer 2026. They are currently looking at stronger patrols in the area, particularly around Don Armeni Boat Ramp, and will be working with Parks on increased enforcing for traffic and noise violations.
The Advisory Council’s community lead, Ella McRae, closed out the meeting. “A more connected community is a safer community.” she said. She highlighted that the next big event for the precinct was a drug takeback day, in partnership with the DEA. This will be held on October 25th, between 10 am and 2 pm at the precinct (2300 SW Webster). She noted, with a wry laugh, that the Southwest Precinct had the largest amount of contributions last year.
10:02 PM: Thanks for the tips. Several police cars are out along Alki Avenue in the Duwamish Head area. They’re dealing with a person in crisis, a man who at one point was reported to be in the water.
10:11 PM: Tipsters report police have left the scene; we don’t yet know the status of the person with whom they were dealing.
At 5 am, we received video from a reader on Alki, an example of a situation often brought up at community meetings – loud music long after the beach closed and that eventually drew a police response last night after dozens of people called it in. The music was audible through the residence’s windows whether closed or open. Here’s part of the clip, and what the sender told us via text:
Just trying to share awareness as we are at our wits end and not able to rely on the police to respond to calls and take action. (And share with people who are hopefully civicly engaged, to help call for assistance long term). If anyone else is complaining about music this morning, it’s going on between 57th and 58th Ave on Alki Ave. We’ve had calls in for over 90 minutes with no response. Audio shows inside with all windows and doors closed, vs how far it carries outside. Not to mention the public intoxication and smashed beer bottles and dangerous-for-pedestrian racing.
Not THIS bad typically, but this has been a reoccurring Friday-Sunday night issue since mid-summer now. We figured it would die down with the cool weather. We can get an officer response quickly if it’s before 10 pm, then maybe 30% of the time after, during the “third shift”. I will be highlighting at the next Alki community council meeting. Wasn’t able to make the one in September.
At some point after 5:30 am, we heard police dispatched; the dispatcher described it as a “large noise complaint, with more than 40 callers.” The texter confirmed “three squad cars arrived”; we asked what happened:
The allied security night watchman that U of W hired to guard the sand volleyball equipment for the weekend tournament they’re hosting said it was going for six hours before officers arrived. 2 hrs since we called.
They got what little remained, about 10, to disperse. Just flashing lights and intercoms on them telling them to go. About 5 cars drove off. All intoxicated, I’m sure. No arrests made. Originally it was 60+ people in front of Blue Moon inbetween 57th and 58th with the very loud car audio setup in the video, but that car left and most of the people left before officers arrived.
Seattle noise rules are summarized on this SPD page. P.S. If you have a question or concern for SPD, wherever you live, the next Southwest Precinct Advisory Council meeting, open to all community members, is this Tuesday, October 7, 6:30 pm, at the Alki Masonic Center (40th/Edmunds).
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