West Seattle, Washington
04 Thursday
(Added: Photo sent by Jason)
10:55 PM: SFD and SPD are responding to the 4800 block of Erskine Way for a report of a 20-year-old man with a gunshot wound. No other details yet.
11:03 PM: Police report being told this was the result of some kind of altercation/confrontation. The victim is being taken to the hospital.
11:12 PM: Police are looking for a suspect, described only, so far, as a “white male with a shaved head.”
11:27 PM: The Guardian One helicopter is assisting with the search.
11:42 PM: The search is ranging over a fairly wide area. Meantime, police are checking security video at the 7-11 to see if it has anything that’ll help.
11:54 PM: The victim was in serious condition when transported, SFD spokesperson David Cuerpo tells WSB. He also says the victim is 32, which is a change from the original radio exchange describing him as 20.
9:50 PM: Seattle Fire has sent a land and sea response to look for a possible kayaker in distress somewhere off Lincoln Park. They’re still looking. Updates to come.
9:55 PM: SFD reports via radio that they’re in contact – via yelling – with “multiple individuals” who are on boards or in kayaks, headed for shore, and they’re still trying to sort out what’s happening and whether someone is truly in trouble.
10:06 PM: Everyone is reported to be out of the water and getting evaluated – but they’re working to verify.
10:17 PM: Fire and police say they’ve confirmed, one person was in distress, two others rescued that person, and all three are safely on shore. An SFD unit will catch up with the victim somewhere around the park’s north shore or nearby Lowman Beach.
(Added: Photo sent by Laura)
9:18 PM: Another emergency callout right now, this time in the 1200 block of Alki. The SFD engine on scene reported that it’s a slide behind a building. Police are there too (added: note in the photo, that includes backup from outside Seattle); they’re calling in Seattle Public Utilities. This follows a record-rainfall day – 1.14 inches of rain at Sea-Tac, wettest May 30th on record.
ADDED 4:09 PM MONDAY: We went to the scene late this morning and also followed up with SPU. Above and below are our photos from behind 1210 Alki SW, but SPU’s Sabrina Register tells us the problem was actually uphill:
Seattle Public Utilities responded after midnight to reports of a water leak on California Lane SW. Water was temporarily shut off to about a dozen customers while crews investigated the source of the leak. After it was determined that the leak was on private property, water was restored to 11 customers. Crews continue to investigate to verify there’s no damage to SPU infrastructure.
In case you saw/heard the big Seattle Fire response on Harbor Island this past half-hour: SFD sent a “rope rescue” callout to help get a man in his 60s with “a medical issue” off a vessel. No other details.
(Added: Photo by Tiff Rivera)
8:40 PM: Big SFD response is headed for Emma Schmitz Memorial Overlook (map), where two people are reported to be in the water. Updates to come.
8:43 PM: SFD says the two people are “swimmers in distress.”
8:48 PM: Now they’re saying that it looks like the “swimmers” are actually “two divers on the surface” who do NOT appear to be in trouble. But a boat crew will continue that way to check with/on them.
(Added: Video by Nicole Neufeld)
9:06 PM: A rescue-boat crew has just made contact and confirmed the divers “are not in trouble at all.”
4:51 PM: Avoid (corrected) 10th S./S. Cloverdale for a while. A driver has hit and injured a pedestrian. Police are there investigating, and SFD is there to treat the victim.
5:04 PM: Correction – the SFD log shows this is at 10th S/S Cloverdale. The latter is the main east-west through South Park. It’s just reopened, per police radio communication. We’ll be checking with SFD on the victim’s condition.
(Texted photo)
2:30 PM: A big Seattle Fire dispatch is arriving at the South Seattle College campus. It’s being described as “roofing materials on fire.” Updates to come.
2:37 PM: The fire is “knocked down,” crews on scene have radioed. The response is being downsized. We don’t yet know exactly what part of the campus this is happening at.
(WSB photo)
2:48 PM: The fire is mostly out but firefighters are dealing with some smoldering debris. This is in the automotive area of the college (which like other schools is currently closed to in-person instruction).
3:11 PM: Now the fire’s declared “tapped.” No word of injuries.
3:28 PM: Adding more photos. Meantime, we checked with SSC spokesperson Ty Swenson, who tells WSB, “From what we’ve gathered, the fire started with construction debris in the Automotive Technology construction zone. It sounds like that debris was at ground level, not on the roof.” More info later.
WEDNESDAY UPDATE: SFD says the fire was “accidentally caused while construction crews were working at the site of a demolition and renovation project for the college. Estimated loss is $10,000.”
9:38 PM: A flipped-car crash is reported near Sylvan Way/Sylvan Heights Drive. Everyone’s reported to have gotten out of the car OK.
9:48 PM: SFD reports that no one was seriously hurt. By the way, if you noticed the Guardian One helicopter in the area for a bit, they just happened to be nearby and offered to help check whether anyone was trapped in the vehicle, but ground crews quickly determined everyone was out.
ADDED FRIDAY MORNING: The driver is being investigated for DUI.
11:56 AM: Seattle Fire responders are headed by land and sea to the north shore of Lincoln Park, where multiple 911 callers have reported that a kayaker has fallen in the water.
11:59 AM: Per radio exchange, the kayaker has made it to shore, and some units are being dismissed from the call.
12:03 PM: The call is closed. One illuminating aspect: This is the type of emergency call that brings units from across the bay. General traffic on the low bridge (where the live camera shows a steady stream of cars continuing) could have impeded the response.
12:18 PM: Emergency responders are at the scene of what’s reported as a car-on-side crash in the 1500 block of Alki SW (map).
12:21 PM: Adding a texted photo (thank you!). Per crews’ reports from the scene, everyone in the vehicle got out OK but a medic unit is being sent for a woman who may need treatment.
12:33 PM: At least three people will be taken to the hospital, via SFD medic unit and AMR ambulances.
12:44 PM: Added two more texted photos above (thanks to that texter too!). Some of the SFD units are being dismissed.
UPDATE 12:20 PM MONDAY: This is being investigated as DUI, SPD confirms. As for the victims, here’s what SFD spokesperson David Cuerpo tells us:
5 of the occupants were able to self-extricate from the vehicle. Our crews were able to safely extricate the 1 year old female from their car seat.
29 year old female in stable condition.
26 year old male in stable condition.
5 year old male with no reported injuries.
9 year old male with no reported injuries.
7 year old male with minor injuries.
1 year old female with no reported injuries.
All were transported to HMC.
2:16 PM MONDAY: SPD’s update includes this:
At the hospital, the 26-year-old male driver was evaluated and showed signs of impairment. There was evidence of drug use by both the adult occupants. Officers obtained a search warrant for a blood sample from the driver. Following his release from the hospital, the driver was booked into the King County Jail for DUI.
No word yet on the circumstances, but the big “scenes of violence” response in the 9200 block of 17th SW is for a man described by the dispatcher as having a knife wound. Police are also there investigating.
2:38 PM: Police and fire are arriving at what was dispatched as a flipped-vehicle crash at 35th/Trenton. Avoid the area.
2:49 PM: Actually a vehicle-on-side crash, and it’s closer to Henderson. 35th is closed between Tremton and Henderson until this is cleared. Police tell us the driver got out of the vehicle and is not seriously hurt. At least one parked vehicle was damaged.
(WSB photo)
12:41 PM: A big response for a crash at 16th/Roxbury – reported as a vehicle into a building – roads are being blocked; avoid the area.
12:57 PM: This is on 16th a short distance north of Roxbury – we’ve added a photo. Firefighters tell us at the scene that one female victim has been taken to the hospital.
1:08 PM: Another angle above, this time a photo from SFD. They say the victim is in serious condition.
1:39 PM: Avoid 8th/Roxbury – a big “rescue extrication” response is headed that way for a crash. One person is reported trapped. More info to come …
1:43 PM: First crew on scene says everyone is out of the vehicle. They’re downsizing the response.
1:52 PM: Photo added – it’s a flipped car. We’re checking with fire/police about injuries.
1:56 PM: A second vehicle was involved; its driver came to a stop about 30 yards away. Our crew has been told, no serious injuries.
{SFD photo)
6:45 PM: A collsion (updated) in the 5300 block of West Margnal Way SW has drawn a big Seattle Fire response. At least one person will have to be extricated from a car reported to be damaged from “severe impact”; at least three are hurt. Avoid the area.
7:17 PM UPDATE: SFD says three patients are being taken to the hospital, one in serious condition, two stable.
8:35 PM: SDOT and SPD say the road has reopened.
7:20 PM: If you’re headed out, avoid the California/Lander intersection for a while. It’s at least partly blocked by the response to a crash. At least one person is hurt – a medic unit’s been called in to take someone to the hospital. We’re on our way to find out more.
7:46 PM: Added a photo. Police say the driver of the silver car hit the white truck, which was parked. The truck’s owner told us he was across the street when he heard it happen. The silver car’s driver is being taken to the hospital and police say they’re investigating him for possible DUI. NB California is blocked from the WSHS entrance north to Lander until this scene is cleared.
8:21 PM: Per scanner, the road has reopened.
(Added: WSB photos)
2:48 AM: Thanks for the texts. SFD is at 58th/Alki on a “scenes of violence” call, and texters say they heard shots – we’re working to find out more.
2:52 AM: Via emergency radio, we’ve heard that one patient has been taken to the hospital.
3:01 AM: SFD is also being called in to treat someone who’s been “punched in the head.” Meantime, the main incident is being described as a “shots call.” Our crew should be there shortly to try to find out more.
3:21 AM: At the scene, our crew says casing markers are visible on the water side of Alki Avenue, across from the Wheel Fun Rentals lot, in the grass and on the path. We haven’t yet been able to talk to police to find out more about the patient taken to the hospital.
3:28 AM: Dispatcher has just reported that another gunshot victim, possibly related to this, has just shown up at a hospital in Federal Way.
3:52 AM: Just talked with a lieutenant at the scene. He says they’re still trying to piece together what happened, but he confirmed that the person taken to the hospital was shot. No one reported in custody so far.They’ll be clearing out of the scene soon.
4:23 AM: Added more photos. Still awaiting info on the condition of the victim taken to Harborviww, and the status of the investigation, so we’ll be updating this story later this morning. Meantime, our archives indicate this is the first time a person has been shot on Alki since the still-unsolved shooting that killed 23-year-old Jordan Thomas in 2017.
9:14 AM: Just in via SPD Blotter:
Detectives are investigating after a 21-year-old man was shot and injured in the Alki neighborhood early Sunday morning.
Police were dispatched to reports of someone shot in the 2600 block of Alki Avenue Southwest. Officers spoke with witnesses who stated the victim was sitting at one of the fire pits when he was approached by a group of unidentified men. The witnesses said there was some type of fight disturbance and then shots were fired. They said the group scattered leaving behind the victim with a non-life-threatening gunshot wound to the head.
Seattle Fire Department Medics took the victim to Harborview Medical Center for further treatment.Gang unit detectives are now investigating and are asking anyone with information to please call the tip line at 206-233-5000.
MONDAY NOTE: We’re still trying to get the full report; SPD told us it’s not releasable yet. No arrests; the investigation remains active. What additional informatn we received today clarified that robbery was the apparent motive; from SPD, “It appears two victims were at Alki beach having a bonfire. While walking back to get the car, one victim was confronted by a group of four. At one point, someone said ‘what do you have in your pockets?’ The victim said a cell phone and wallet. At that point the group of four began assaulting the first victim. The second victim arrived and jumped in to assist in the fight. A moment later gunshots sounded and one of the two victims was stuck by gunfire. Both victims were transported to HMC, one for the gunshot wound and one for the injuries from the assault.” No description of the attackers, nor is there any more information about whether the gunshot victim who turned up in Federal Way was related to this.
(Photo tweeted by @PDXMark)
9:02 PM: A “rescue extrication” response is headed to the 3800 block of 22nd SW (north of Andover) on Pigeon Point. More to come.
9:04 PM: Per scanner, a driver coming down a steep driveway hit a woman, and then the car hit a house. The response is being downsized – no extrication needed. No major injury reported so far.
9:11 PM: SFD says no one in the house was hurt; initial assessment radioed by crews is that damage appears minor.
9:28 PM: Our crew says the vehicle hit the house’s front door and verifies no major injuries.
8:41 PM: Per scanner and SDOT, a crash is blocking SW Roxbury at 26th SW. It’s reported to involve a Metro bus. Police are on scene, but no SFD dispatch so far, so apparently no injuries.
8:47 PM: Added texted photo (thank you!).
(WSB photo)
Thanks for the texted tip! We just went over to check out that crash scene on the south side of Roxbury by Safeway. King County Sheriff’s Deputy Bill Kennamer was there and told us they don’t know who’s responsible because the vehicle was empty by the time they arrived. They’re currently trying to determine whether the vehicle was stolen. As our photo shows, it’s being towed, and any traffic effects will be over shortly. The crash damaged a couple of trees that the deputy says might not survive as a result.
2:13 PM: A capsized boat with 1 person in the water is reported about a mile off the 6000 block Beach Drive – SFD and the Coast Guard are responding – more to come.
(Fireboat Leschi responding – photo by Jim Borrow, substituted for previously posted WSB phone photo)
2:33 PM: Per scanner, what was reported might not have been an overturned boat after all.
2:40 PM: And SFD now confirms it was “floating debris.” Land and sea response ending.
3:09 PM: Seattle Fire has a “full response” headed to a building in the 9200 block of 9th SW [map]. Updates to come.
3:11 PM: First units on scene report that the smoke called in by many passers-by is from “a chicken coop on fire” and the response is being downsized. We’re still en route; we’ll check on the chickens.
3:33 PM: Firefighters on scene tell us the chickens are OK. The coop is in a private backyard and the owners weren’t there so we couldn’t see it.
Thanks to Kevin Freitas for the photo and to everyone who messaged about a big emergency response at Terminal 5. We missed hearing the dispatch so inquired with SFD – spokesperson David Cuerpo replied:
Firefighters responded … for a loaded excavator that tipped over on a dock, partially landing in the water (the stick/bucket part of the excavator). The driver of the excavator was able to self-extricate prior to SFD arrival (the driver never fell in water), and was transported in stable condition via AMR to Harborview. He is an approx. 60-year-old male. When the excavator tipped over, an adult male on a nearby vessel fell in the water, and was able to exit on his own. He is wet, but uninjured. Rescue boat 5 and Fireboat 2 were taking turns in managing traffic in the waterway…
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