10:58 PM: If you’re among the many 911 callers who have reported hearing gunfire in South Admiral, police are investigating; they believe the shots are being fired by a man in an apartment at an address reported as 3262 California SW. No word of injuries so far but police say they’re still hearing shots from outside the building.

11:05 PM: Police are calling for reinforcements and told dispatch they’re planning to block off California both ways in the area.

(Added: Reader photo)

11:12 PM: They’ve done that now. They’re also bringing in a K-9 team as well as a bus they can use for evacuees.

11:23 PM: And they’re moving radio communication to an unmonitorable channel so updates likely will be fewer until this is resolved.

11:30 PM: A reader within earshot of the building says it sounds like progress is being made.

11:34 PM: The suspect is in custody and will be checked by medics, according to SFD radio. No gunshot wounds.

11:42 PM: Side note, the suspect was reported to be alone in his apartment except for a dog, who police are now taking to a shelter.

12:03 AM: Officers just announced they’re reopening California in both directions.

Three notes in West Seattle Crime Watch this evening:

PACKAGE TAKEN: The video was sent by a reader in North Admiral in hopes someone recognizes this person:

(2200 block) California Ave SW, happened around 4 am Thursday night. Temporary report number: T00035482

BURGLARY FOLLOWUP: On Saturday morning, we briefly reported police investigating a burglary at Zeeks Pizza in Morgan Junction. Today we obtained the report with details. The person who reported the break-in was a produce-delivery person who saw the shattered glass on arrival. Police say the register drawer was damaged but it didn’t appear the burglar(s) had gotten anything from it because, the officer who filed the report wrote, “the business operated on credit/debit cards only.” However, staff told police that it appeared “10-15 bottles of whiskey were taken.”

POLICE HIRING: Back in May, city councilmembers got an update on Seattle Police hiring (WSB coverage here) and were told it was moving at an “unprecedented” pace. An announcement late today suggests that pace is continuing, with the news that they’ve hired more than 100 officers so far this year. That’s more than projected in the May briefing, which suggested SPD was likely to hire 132 to 169 officers this entire year.

OFFICER RIDEALONG VIDEO: The news release touting the hiring numbers mentioned that among other things, the department is now producing “compelling content on YouTube.” So we clicked through to see what they were referring to and found this recently published SPD video, scenes from a ridealong with a Southwest Precinct officer, featuring mostly West Seattle calls:

This includes some of the revived traffic enforcement that officers have been doing lately (as evidenced by radio calls and online logs).

6:53 PM: For the past three or so nights, police have been trying to catch a group speeding around West Seattle in the same stolen car. Today, they took the unusual step of asking us to circulate a description of this car, in hopes somebody will spot it – parked or moving. It’s a 2018 white four-door Hyundai Elantra, no plates, usually seen with four ski-masked people on board, traveling 70 to 80 mph, no lights. They have pursued it, police tell us, but unsuccessfully. We asked police if there are any other distinguishing features you would notice, but they said no. If you think you see it – again, either moving or not – call 911.

7:57 PM: Update – the vehicle has been recovered, police just told us.

ORIGINAL SUNDAY EVENING REPORT: Thanks to Dave for the tip, after he saw police arresting people in the Seacrest parking lot around 6 am this morning and asked if we knew what that was about. The initial call was labeled “threats” and dispatch audio said people in a car were harassing would-be customers. Now police have released a summary with more to the story, saying it started with a 911 call around 5:20 am from someone reporting they’d been threatened by someone on Harbor Avenue “in an older white Mercedes sedan” and reporting someone else involved was “armed with a black handgun with an extended, translucent magazine.” Officers couldn’t initially find the car where it was first reported but then located it in the Seacrest lot, with four people nearby. They detained al four and eventually arrested two, described as one male suspect and one female suspect. Police got a search warrant for the car and found a stolen handgun inside matching the previous description. The police summary says the male suspect was booked into jail for investigation of felony assault, use of a firearm by a minor, and felony possession of a stolen firearm. Police say the female suspect faces a charge of misdemeanor assault but first was taken to a hospital for a lip laceration, “an injury she sustained while fighting with the female victim prior to police arrival.” No further information but we’ll be following up.

ADDED MONDAY: We followed up on this. First, the male suspect, who was booked into jail, is 19 years old. Second, we’ve obtained the police-report narrative (the XXXXXX redactions are by SPD):

On 06.08.25 at approximately 0522 hours, V/XXXX called 911 to report he had been threatened by a man with a firearm. Several officers responded to the area, and I responded to V/XXXX’ location.

I contacted V/XXXX and V/XXXX-XX near 4 Av S / S Spokane St. … V/XXXX appeared to be in a state of shock and seemed detached as I spoke with him. V/XXXX stated that he was parked in the parking lot located on the east side of the 1900 block of Harbor Av SW. This parking lot is private property but is open to the public for free parking. It’s typically used as overflow parking for a nearby business, which was not open at this early hour. V/XXXX stated that he saw a group also parked in this lot, openly drinking alcoholic beverages and being loud. The group was associated with a white Mercedes Benz sedan. V/XXXX suspected it was a C-Class. V/XXXX and V/XXXX-XX exited their car to sit on a bench and watch the sunrise above the Seattle skyline.

A male in the other group, later identified as (male suspect), began to yell at V/XXXX and V/XXXX-XX. (Male suspect) took offense at being looked at by V/XXXX and V/XXXX-XX. (Male suspect) produced a handgun from his waistband and began to brandish it in the direction of V/XXXX and V/XXXX-XX. (Male suspect) was yelling about not being looked at, and wanted to know what V/XXXX and V/XXXX-XX were doing. A female in (male suspect)’s group, later identified as A/ADULT F/21, then assaulted V/XXXX-XX.

While V/XXXX-XX was being assaulted, (Male suspect) approached V/XXXX and stuck the handgun into his stomach. (Male suspect) stated something to the effect of “get out of here or I’ll shoot you.” V/XXXX provided a detailed description of the firearm. He stated that it was likely a Glock (a black, semi-automatic handgun) equipped with a translucent, extended magazine. The magazine was protruded from the magazine well in the grip of the handgun, and V/XXXX stated that he could see live rounds inside the translucent magazine. Fearing for their lives, V/XXXX and V/XXXX-XX fled and called 911.

I then spoke to V/XXXX-XX. She provided a materially similar statement about what led up the incident. She saw (Male suspect) with a firearm in his hand, but it wasn’t clear if she saw (Male suspect) stick it into V/XXXX stomach. (Female suspect) pepper sprayed V/XXXX-XX in the face. V/XXXX-XX didn’t know why this was happening and stated she was struck in the face by (Female suspect). Owing to the debilitating effects of the OC spray, V/XXXX-XX was unable to provide a clear account of precisely how she was assaulted. However, her face was red from the OC spray, her nose ring had been ripped out, and she had a fresh laceration on her right upper arm. V/XXXX-XX stated that she did strike (Female suspect) back in self-defense.

As I conducted these interviews, officers located (Male suspect) and (Female suspect) in the parking lot of Seacrest Park. They, along with the two other people in their group, were detained without incident.

(Male suspect) was intoxicated when he was detained by officers. He admitted to XXXXXX prior to SPD arrival and smelled of alcoholic beverages. After being advised of his Miranda rights, (Male suspect) stated that he had intervened in the fight between his female friend and V/XXXX-XX. (Male suspect) did not expand on what he meant by “intervene”. (Male suspect)denied being in possession of a firearm. (Male suspect) did not have a firearm on his person at the time of his detention. The white Mercedes sedan was located with (Male suspect). The sedan bore Washington plates XXXXXXX, and was a C-Class like V/XXXX suspected. (Male suspect) is one of two registered owners of the vehicle and had the keys to the vehicle on his person. (Male suspect) did not give consent for officers to search his car. …

(Female suspect) was also intoxicated when detained by officers. She also admitted to XXXXXX. (Female suspect) had an injury to her upper lip, and claimed that it was from falling over. She then XXXXX that XXXXX and advised it was from being struck by V/XXXX-XX. She was treated at the scene by SFD. See Ofc XXXXXXXX’s statement for more detail.

I transported V/XXXX and V/XXXX-XX to the location where (both suspects) were being detained. Both V/XXXX and V/XXXX-XX identified (Male suspect) as the man who had threatened them with a handgun and (Female suspect) as the female that assaulted V/XXXX-XX. (The two) were transported to the SW Precinct for processing. …

Because the firearm was not located on (Male suspect), I suspected that the firearm used in this crime may be in (his) vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the Southwest Precinct as the SPD processing room was not available.

I applied for and was granted a search warrant for the vehicle by King County Superior Court judge XXXXXX XXXXXXXX. Ofc XXXXXXXX and I searched the vehicle. I located a handgun in the car’s glove box. The firearm is exactly as described by V/XXXX. It is a Glock 20, 10MM semi-automatic handgun. The handgun was loaded with a translucent, 30 Round ETS magazine. I cleared the firearm and discovered there was a round in the chamber. Including the round in the chamber, the handgun was loaded with 30 rounds of brass cased Federal ball ammunition. The rounds all appeared to have intact primers. I function tested the firearm, and it appeared to be a normal Glock handgun. … I ran the serial number for the firearm and was advised by radio that the firearm returned as a Federal Way stolen gun. … (Because male suspect is) only 19 years old. He is therefore not old enough to lawfully possess a handgun in public (and) he is not able to obtain a CPL and is therefore prohibited from having a loaded handgun in his car.

The suspect does not appear to have a felony record. He is likely to have a probable-cause/bail hearing this afternoon; we’ll add whatever we find out about that.

ADDED 7:16 PM: The suspect’s bail, as shown on the jail roster, was set at $100,000.

(Added Wednesday night: Full unedited video of meeting)

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

On a day bookended by two gunfire incidents in West Seattle, leaders from the Seattle Police Gun Violence Reduction Unit happened to be among the guests at the quarterly Southwest Precinct Advisory Council meeting.

Lt. Sean Moore and Sgt. Jeffrey Page acknowledged it probably isn’t much comfort for those directly affected by gunfire incidents to hear that citywide, “shots fired” calls are down.

But they said the 15 detectives and two sergeants in the unit “are out there every day trying to find the people responsible for this violence.” They briefly mentioned high-profile West Seattle incidents such as the person reported to have pointed a gun at a Madison Middle School staffer last week. “We will arrest them and hold them accountable,” the GRVU team insisted.

They can’t do it without community information, however, they said – “we need your help, we need your eyes and ears, we need your private video.” And they urged people to use the SPD violent-crime tipline, 206-233-5000, anonymously if necessary.

GVRU is one of the followup units with which the Southwest Precinct is collaborating, precinct commander Capt. Krista Bair told the ~50 people gathered at Neighborhood House High Point. The others include the Narcotics and Robbery Units, she added, while reiterating that community collaboration is just as important.

Some categories of crime are down significantly, precinct Crime Prevention Coordinator Jennifer Satterwhite – who organized the meeting along with the SWPAC’s community lead Ella McRae – said. Year to year, auto theft in the precinct area (West Seattle and South Park)is down 37 percent, while burglary is down 40 percent.

After stats, the meeting moved on to what was originally to be a panel discussion – City Attorney Ann Davison canceled at the last minute and City Council President Sara Nelson arrived 25 minutes into the meeting (explaining that she had been napping and overslept), so Natalie Walton-Anderson – who is public-safety chief for Mayor Bruce Harrell – was alone to field initial questions.

The questions began with some submitted in advance. Police staffing was the first, and Walton-Anderson noted the recent recruiting success: “I always like to give hope and optimism – our hiring numbers continue to break records; we’re averaging 12 applicants every day.” But that won’t be reflected in numbers of officers on the street before fall, since the hiring and training process is time-consuming. “I know people are tired of waiting.”

What can city and county prosecutors do about gun violence? Walton-Anderson noted she has worked for both those departments. “Gun laws need to be addressed at the state and federal level … an influx of guns continues to come into our community.” But she said it’s also about working with youth, from mentors to “violence interrupters.” Regarding what seems like a “revolving door” of people through the criminal-justice system, she said, “Those are questions I’ve been asking for 28 years … in terms of repeat offenders, we should hold people accountable but if we don’t get to the underlying reasons,” things won’t change. Asked what specific laws need to change, she declined to make suggestions.

She did talk about the 911 and non-emergency-number system, which she’d been asked about in a previous forum. She mentioned some recent changes – for example, in mid-May, the CARE Department – which includes 911 – “went live with a new phone tree to try to direct calls such as parking enforcement.” And as of the start of this month, CARE is staffing a dedicated non-emergency calltaker during “peak hours, 7 days a week, 11 am to 7 pm.” That doesn’t mean the non-emergency number won’t be answered at other times, she said, but it increases the chances you’ll reach someone during those “peak hours.”

However, she warned, 911 still has 14 vacancies “and that’s a lot.” It’ll be reduced soon with a new class of seven people emerging, however. She added that any calls that haven’t been dispatched for an extended period of time are being “re-broadcast” (we’ve heard this while monitoring police radio).

(Council President Sara Nelson, Crime Prevention Coordinator Jennifer Satterwhite, SW Precinct Capt. Krista Bair)

That’s when council president Nelson arrived. The citywide councilmember (who’s running for re-election this fall) insisted the council is “laser-focused on public safety” while acknowledging “that’s not enough.” She said a major role of the council is oversight, and the recent report on gun-violence trends was an example. Meantime, “We’re trying to do our job by passing laws but progress is too slow – apologizing to the community is inappropriate right now, so we just have to acknowledge we have a long way to go.”

When the floor was opened to “live” Q&A shortly after that, she was asked if the council will try again to fund the gunshot-detector technology that the mayor decided not to pursue. Nelson said she was “100 percent for it.” Walton-Anderson declared that “we need all the technological help we can get” and said that technology already in use has “resulted in so many incredible outcomes.” That includes the newly implemented Real-Time Crime Center and closed-circuit cameras installed in three areas of the city (none in the SW Precinct yet, and the panelists said this area hadn’t yet been “identified” as a priority). The camera usage had helped solve an auto theft, for example, she added, and Nelson noted that while some might not consider auto theft mega-important, “the problem is that the stolen cars are being used for much-greater crimes,” like crash-and-grab burglaries.

Next question was about the North Delridge gunfire incident earlier in the day; Capt. Bair said she didn’t have up-to-date details but last she had heard, SPD was “working on a warrant” for a related search. (Our story had followup information earlier in the evening that the one person initially reported as “detained” was indeed eventually arrested and booked into jail.)

Will the police-hiring success mean more officers for the Southwest Precinct? Capt. Bair couldn’t say for sure but did note yet another departmental change – when new recruits leave the academy, they are usually “sprinkled around” the department, but next time “we’re going to take all five and put them in one precinct – it’ll be more impactful.” She didn’t know which precinct that would be, however.

An attendee who said her children were impacted by two recent incidents that led to schools sheltering in place asked, “How are we going to prioritize West Seattle?” Walton-Anderson, noting that she had a child affected by one of those recent incidents too, countered, “How are we going to prioritize ALL our kids?” She exhorted support for youth mental health and more city partnership with schools on safety programs. “More police, yes, but also, (programs like) Community Passageways” are needed.

Walton-Anderson had to depart at 7:30, with a half-hour left, so Nelson became the lone panelist (along with SPD personnel, including the GVRU leaders, Capt. Bair, and the precinct’s second-in-command Operations Lt. Nate Shopay).

Another attendee had more of a comment than a question, saying that three gunfire incidents have happened in her High Point neighborhood and she’s worried about youth who know who’s to blame but aren’t talking. She’s also worried that there’s no safe place for kids to play. McRae, who works as a community builder in HP, said there actually are a lot of options for play.

Regarding patrols to prevent crime, Lt. Shopay said that by mid-summer, some bicycle patroling would be back, focused on “directed patrol” emphasis areas such as Alki Beach and Westwood Village. (Officers won’t be riding to those spots from the precinct, though – they have to be able to “get back in their cars” quickly if other events dictate.) And he said “directed patrols” do include side streets, not just arterials.

A South Park representative reminded Lt. Shopay that SP would like bike patrols, too.

Are police monitoring social media to find out what’s planned for street-racing type events? one attendee then asked.

Capt. Bair said yes, the department is “scouring” social media and “often” knows when there’s going to be a gathering.
Overall, she insisted, “we’re doing everything we can.” There’s regional intel-sharing too, since often these gatherings move from city to city, not just neighborhood to neighborhood.

The precinct’s public-safety liaison from the City Attorney’s Office, Rachel Wang,, said some new racing-related regulations are on the books and could result in tickets – “participation” and “attendance at races.”

Then the question emerged again: What can be done about gun violence? Nelson promised to introduce “some policies” by year’s end, without getting specific.

Various other frustrations were expressed before the meeting ended. An attendee expressed frustration at trying to contact police with video of a reckless driver, saying the 911 calltaker told him they couldn’t do anything because no one got hurt. Capt. Bair apologized, saying that’s not the kind of reception she would have hoped for – the situation “sounds like a 911 call to me.” Others asked whether police were enforcing the lack of plates, or plates with tinted covers, or windows tinted too darkly. Capt. Bair said police are “doing what we can” – but she had to be honest, higher-priority violations take precedence.

Another attendee asked for clarification regarding the 206-233-5000 tipline. “Violent crimes,” said the GVRU commmander Lt. Moore. A legislative assistant accompanying Council President Nelson said that for non-urgent, low-level situations, Find It Fix It might be appropriate.

The meeting ran a bit overtime, and many participants stayed on for one-on-one conversations. Watch for the next quarterly meeting to be announced when the date, time, and location are set; you’ll also see Satterwhite and other SPD reps at many major summer events, including Night Out on August 5.

It’s continued to be a busy night for West Seattle police. Right now they’re at one confirmed incident 0 the 16th/Holden 7-Eleven, was reported to have been robbed a short time ago. No weapons, but the robbers got away with “many bottles of alcohol” and cash. Description for all three: Black, male, 16-20, face masks, dark clothing.

Police are also still looking for evidence that would confirm gunfire in either or both of two places where many people reported hearing it within the past hour – Arbor Heights and Lincoln Park. Officers have checked multiple potential locations in both but so far we haven’t heard any reports of them finding evidence (casings, property damage, injured people).

Two incidents at West Seattle’s biggest parks:

ALKI ARREST: Police arrested a 30-year-old man early today and explained the incident via SPD Blotter:

At about 6:12 a.m., dispatchers received a report of a man with a weapon harassing females near Alki Avenue Southwest and 63rd Avenue Southwest. Officers responded and found a man matching the caller’s description walking south on Alki Avenue Southwest. Police detained him, identified him as the suspect, and took him into custody. Officers recovered the knife at the scene.

A 48-year-old woman told police the suspect had approached her earlier near the Alki Bathhouse while she walked her dog. She said he shouted something unintelligible and growled at her before walking away when she told him to back off. Police said the man later approached a 16-year-old and two 17-year-old girls, yelling at them, brandishing a fixed-blade knife, and making disturbing comments about sexual assault and the devil. The girls stepped back to distance themselves, and a witness intervened before the suspect walked away. No one was injured during the incident. Officers booked the man into King County Jail for investigation of malicious harassment.

Reminder, the Alki Community Council will focus on beach safety at its meeting tomorrow night, 6:30 pm at Alki Bathhouse, as previewed here.

LINCOLN PARK ARREST: A reader asked about a police response in the Lincoln Park north lot around dusk last night. We requested the report narrative today. The report says two officers noticed a “suspicious vehicle” – a Hyundai – in the park lot. Two people appeared to be asleep inside; ignition damage was visible, along with a beer can and narcotics pipe. The two, a man and woman, were awakened; the driver turned out to have a suspended license out of Burien, and showed signs of impairment, according to the report. Police had trouble determining the car’s status; it wasn’t reported stolen, and the driver claimed he had bought it about a week ago. It was registered to someone in Puyallup wh told them by phone that he had sold it months ago, but the driver found in it at Lincoln Park wasn’t that person. Police eventually booked the driver for investigation of DUI. The woman was not suspected of any crime – she told police the man had picked her up off the street and invited her “to party” – and was released. He, meantime, is still in jail.