West Seattle, Washington
08 Monday
(Photo taken about a block from shooting scene while police searched)
2:26 PM: Big police response in the area of 32nd and Othello (map), where neighbors tell us a home was shot at this afternoon. No one is reported to have been hit or hurt.
2:31 PM: Police on the scene have confirmed that shots were fired into a house and say they have recovered some “evidence.” Again, no injuries. No motive reported at this point – police believe it was random.
5:36 PM: From the update published late today on SPD Blotter:
… At about 1:15 pm today a blue Chevy Blazer or similar type SUV drove by a residence at 32nd Avenue SW and SW Othello. The suspect(s) inside the SUV fired shots at the house, striking a fence post, a tree branch, the front door and living room window, before driving away southbound. The bullets that hit the door and window ended up inside the house. An adult man and woman were inside the house at the time, but there were no injuries.
Southwest Precinct officers responded quickly and conducted an area search, but the suspect vehicle was not located. Evidence was collected at the scene, and officers are continuing to investigate.
4:17 PM: Police are searching right now for someone reported to have held up a business in the strip mall on the northeast corner of 35th and Roxbury. The robber is described in scanner traffic as black, male, about 25 years old, red bandana over his face, 6 feet tall, slender, black beanie, dark puffy jacket. He was reported to be armed with a 9-mm handgun. He was last seen headed northbound on 35th. The address given for the robbery is the smoke shop at 9650 35th; we have a crew en route.
4:52 PM: Adding a photo. Not much additional information at the scene – police confirmed Discount Smoke and Beverage is the store that was robbed; they got conflicting reports about which way the robber was seen running, so they’re searching in all directions. They were also still working to find out what the robber got away with. No injuries reported.
2:47 AM: Police are investigating a stabbing in the Delridge/22nd SW area (map) right now. According to radio traffic between medics and Harborview Medical Center, the victim is a 27-year-old man described as having a “single stab wound to the left flank.” He is being taken to HMC; no other details so far.
3:28 AM UPDATE: Southwest Precinct Lt. Alan Williams says officers “are currently attempting to gather information as to exactly what occurred” – so far they know that the victim himself called 911 to report that he had been stabbed by someone he didn’t know, but didn’t make the call until about 15 minutes after it happened. They found him near Delridge and Graham. Early information from medics, Lt. Williams says, is that the stab wound was not life-threatening.
11:13 AM UPDATE: A few more details this morning via SPD Blotter – but what happened remains a mystery. (For the commenter who asked, police clarify the wound location as “lower left back.”)
Three people were hurt in an incident at the Oregon 42 construction site in The Junction, according to Seattle Fire spokesperson Kyle Moore. We checked with him after Lisa e-mailed to say fire crews were at the 42nd/Oregon site; Moore says SFD was called “for reports of a fallen worker at a construction site.” One man, described as in his late 30s, was taken to Harborview Medical Center with what Moore says were non-life-threatening injuries including multiple fractures, and two others were treated at the scene for minor injuries. Oregon 42 is a 131-unit project that’s been under construction since last spring.
(Photo by WSB co-publisher Patrick Sand)
7:41 PM: Another crash under investigation right now – this time at California and Spokane, with the driver possibly having left the scene after reportedly hitting parked cars and shrubs. On the way to check out.
7:46 PM: The suspect being sought in connection with the crash is described as blonde, male, wearing a dark hoodie, and jeans, last seen headed west on SW Spokane from the California vicinity.
8:01 PM: Our crew at the scene says the vehicle is a white pickup truck with equipment of some kind in the back. Police say it’s NOT a stolen vehicle. It went up into the bushes in front of an apartment building in the 3400 block of California, after hitting two vehicles out front. No injuries reported (unless the driver, who hasn’t been found yet, turns out to be hurt).
(This photo and next one by Christopher Boffoli for WSB)
10:35 PM UPDATE: WSB contributing photojournalist Christopher Boffoli went back out to the scene while the truck was being towed. He caught that scene (above) and also found police checking out one of the other damaged vehicles:
Christopher talked to one of the building’s owners, who said that they had just redone the landscaping, but at least the truck didn’t hit the building. Towing the truck, meantime, was a challenge, the driver told him, because the front axle was broken and a tree was in the way, so, Christopher explains, “He had to hook up the front and gingerly pivot the truck around, going back and forth. He finally got it out just around 9:30. SPD had southbound California closed for a bit but it is open now. As of 9:35, SPD said they still did not have the driver in custody.”
FIRST REPORT, 6:27 PM: We’re on our way to check out a crash reported to involve a vehicle and a bus at 26th and Barton, which is the intersection with the main south entrance to Westwood Village. Police are reported to be looking for two males who fled from the vehicle – a Mitsubishi – and were last seen headed toward Roxhill Park.
6:33 PM UPDATE: Our crew is on the scene. Eastbound Barton is blocked by the crash; westbound is still moving. We can’t tell what route number the bus is from – but it’s not a RapidRide bus; it’s a blue/yellow articulated bus.
7:10 PM UPDATE: Photo added. No word of arrests yet; we’ll be going to check the scene shortly, to see if traffic is moving again.
(UPDATED with letter sent to Sealth families)
FIRST REPORT, 10:22 AM: SFD says two teenage girls are being treated after a vehicle hit them near Sealth. We have just arrived in the area. More shortly.
10:34 AM: The fire and police activity is focused in the street just east of the SWAC field across from the school. Principal Chris Kinsey (photo below) is on the scene and tells WSB co-publisher Patrick Sand that both girls are students.
They are on their way to Harborview Medical Center. This was originally broadcast via scanner as a hit-and-run. We are hearing talk of a possible suspect being found at a different scene.
10:48 AM: The possible suspect is at an address in White Center. Meantime, no word yet on the victims’ conditions. They were both described as conscious and alert, however.
10:55 AM: For those who are worried about students there – we just talked again with principal Kinsey and he says e-mail is about to go out to the Sealth community; we will be checking with SPS communications about that. We have learned that scanner traffic described one girl as 17 years old – we don’t know the age of the other.
11:05 AM: At the scene where police pulled over a possible suspect vehicle in White Center – two young women came over and talked with us and the rest of the media and say it was a case of mistaken identity.
11:28 AM: Here’s what SPD Blotter says about the incident:
A 30-year-old woman struck two female students following an altercation this morning. Just shortly after 10 a.m., a female suspect intentionally struck two female students with her car, in the 2600 block of SW Thistle.
An altercation between the two victims and the suspect preceded the assault. The female victims 17 and 18-years-old sustained minor injuries. Both victims were treated on scene by Seattle Fire and subsequently transported to Harborview Medical Center.
The female suspect was driving a black (unknown model) Honda. During the time of this posting, officers were still searching for the suspect and vehicle.
Most of the responders have cleared the scene – except for TV trucks, and some police presence outside the school.
12:23 PM UPDATE: Sealth principal Chris Kinsey is sending this short note to Sealth parents:
Dear Chief Sealth International High School families:
I wanted to let you know about an incident that occurred today near our school. At approximately 10:15 A.M. two Chief Sealth students were struck by a car while walking in the 2600 block of Southwest Thistle Street, across from the school.
Both students were transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and both were able to communicate with medical personnel. Seattle police are investigating the details surrounding the incident.
Please be assured that the safety and security of our students is our number-one priority. If you have questions or concerns, please contact me at (206) 252-8550.
Sincerely,
Chris Kinsey
Principal
Chief Sealth International High School
The district says both students’ parents have been notified. One girl is a 17-year-old junior; the other, an 18-year-old senior.
3:21 PM UPDATE: The district says Harborview reports that the older girl is in intensive care, and the younger one is in satisfactory condition. No word of an arrest, yet.
4:30 PM UPDATE: Seattle Police now say the suspect was expected to turn herself in this afternoon – but has not. This is from an update just posted to SPD Blotter:
Witnesses stated that the suspect got into a physical fight with one of the victims because the victim struck her (suspect’s) dog. The fist fight ended and the suspect left and returned to the area and located and chased the victim with a Taser. The victim ran away and was returning to school when the suspect reappeared with her vehicle facing the two victims. The suspect accelerated and hit both victims with her car. She then fled the area. …
The female suspect was driving a black (unknown model) Honda. After fleeing the scene the 37-year-old suspect called 9-1-1 and advised that she would surrender to police at 4:00 p.m. today. The suspect is still at large.
Anyone with information about her whereabouts is asked to call 9-1-1.
11:18 PM NOTE: Checked with police a short time ago. No word of any arrest, still.
NOON THURSDAY UPDATE: The 17-year-old victim is out of the hospital, Harborview Medical Center confirms. They also say the 18-year-old victim’s family is keeping information on her condition private.
Thanks to Becky for the tip and Chris for the photo – just southeast of Westwood Village, that car missed a curve and wound up upside down in a yard. No injuries reported – there wasn’t even a medic dispatch for the crash. We’re checking with police for any more information about the circumstances.
(1st two photos are community-contributed – thank you!)
10:59 AM: Police and fire are rushing to 26th and Roxbury, where a crash has closed westbound Roxbury and left eastbound with one lane open, according to the scanner, with radio communication describing the crash as one vehicle on its side with one person injured, apparently not seriously. More to come.
11:06 AM: Ladder 11 reports it has extricated that person from the crashed car.
11:13 AM: Added a photo just sent to us. WSB co-publisher Patrick Sand also is on scene now and reports that 26th is blocked as well as the westbound side of Roxbury.
He has just talked to Southwest Precinct Lt. Pierre Davis on the scene and was told there is a second car involved – a silver Honda.
11:34 AM: Added Patrick’s photo of that car. He says police are still sorting out the circumstances of the crash.
ORIGINAL REPORT, 7:57 AM: The big fire/police response is for a crash reported at 48th and Spokane, which is between Madison and Schmitz Park. More shortly.
8:27 AM UPDATE: From the scene and from police: Three vehicles were involved. Our crew saw two – including one on its side. (Added – here’s the other one:)
Tow trucks were already there as of about 10 minutes ago, so the scene will be clear soon if it’s not already. One person was taken to the hospital by private ambulance – which means the injuries were not believed to be major.
(Photos by Christopher Boffoli for WSB)
5:33 PM: Now there’s a new incident – someone reported to have fallen or jumped off the south side of the lower West Seattle Bridge. Needless to say, the entire area below the bridges is a mess, with emergency equipment everywhere.
5:35 PM UPDATE: The person is reported to be in the water, hanging onto a piling. They’re sending divers into the water to help.
5:57 PM: Fire/rescue crews are on both sides of the surface beneath the bridge, but they aren’t seeing the person right now, and are still saying he (that’s the pronoun they are using) is believed to have jumped off the lower bridge’s south side.
6:11 PM: Per the scanner, a bicycle helmet and vest were found, not in the water, possibly linked to the person they’re looking for.
The low bridge is still closed both ways because of this.
6:33 PM UPDATE: From the scanner, police and fire have agreed the low bridge can be reopened. But the search continues.
A Coast Guard vessel is reported to be joining the search.
7:18 PM UPDATE: As pointed out in comments and by SFD via Twitter, this is now considered to be a “recovery” effort, with Seattle Police taking the lead (its divers have been searching along with SFD divers).
That means they don’t have much hope they’ll find the person alive.
7:24 PM UPDATE: WSB’s Christopher Boffoli at the search scene says the effort is winding up – nothing’s been found in the water.
MONDAY MORNING, 9 AM: We checked with Seattle Police spokesperson Det. Mark Jamieson this morning. He says that police found a wallet and cell phone at the spot on the bridge where the person was reported to have gone into the river, but he doesn’t know yet what followup has been done to see if the person to whom they belong is missing.
(Photo shared by John Douglas via Facebook)
5:05 PM: Fire and police crews have rushed to a rollover crash that’s on the north end of Delridge near Fire Station 36. At least one person is reported to be trapped in the wreckage. More as we get it.
5:13 PM: Traffic trouble if you’re getting off bridge at Delridge, per a bus rider in comments. Also, per the scanner, the person has just been rescued from the wreckage.
5:26 PM: TV helicopter over the scene. The person who was trapped in the car has been extricated. She is described as the driver, about 28 years old, going to Harborview Medical Center. A 30-year-old man got out of the car on his own and is not described as being seriously hurt but he’s going to the hospital in a private ambulance to be checked out. The TV chopper over the area is here because of the crash.
Thanks to WSB’er “smokeycretin” for sending the photo. Police and fire are handling a flipped-vehicle crash at 5th Place and Roxbury – on the westbound (city) side of Roxbury. Apparently no major injuries, since the callout has no medic unit so far. But the response, and eventual tow, are likely to affect traffic coming up the hill from 509/South Park for a while.
The photo is courtesy of West Seattle photographer Machel Spence, who’s involved with the Wild Mushroom Show, which is actually at Magnuson Park in the north end (details here) today and tomorrow, but her photo goes so well with the damp forecast for our area (and the rest of the city) … But don’t let the rain keep you home! Much going on – including local businesses welcoming you to their grand opening/open house/anniversary events. Highlights from the WSB West Seattle Events Calendar:
TIBBETTS UMC RUMMAGE SALE: 10 am-3 pm, the sale only comes twice a year! Second and final day to go browse and buy at Tibbetts United Methodist Church (WSB sponsor), 3940 41st SW.
BIOSWALE/RAINGARDEN OPEN HOUSE: If you live in Westwood or Sunrise Garden, go find out about the newest version of the plan for “green stormwater infrastructure” to reduce sewer overflows into Puget Sound by cutting down on what goes into the system uphill. 10 am-noon at Westside School (WSB sponsor) – here’s our preview, with a map.
PLANT SALE AT SSCC: Fall is THE time to plant perennials, and you’ll find deals at the South Seattle Community College Garden Center, 11 am-3 pm, north side of the campus at 6000 16th SW.
THREE OPEN HOUSE/GRAND OPENINGS:
*BodyLife Conditioning: Free Nia (10 am) and Yoga (11 am) classes, plus noon- 2 pm snacks and beverages to celebrate the grand opening at 5432 California Ave SW (more info on the BLC website).
*Stitch & Sew Studio: The new addition to the West Seattle Fabric Company family is having an open house today 11 am-4 pm (and tomorrow noon-3 pm), as reported in our story from last weekend. 5910 California SW.
*West Seattle Fight and Fitness, 5050 Delridge Way SW, 11 am-7 pm, details in the calendar listing.
PUMPKIN JUNCTION: Today marks the start of a pumpkin-beer/cider celebration at The Beer Junction (even beer floats/shakes with Husky Deli ice cream), which also adds four new taps today (20 total). Details here.
SW SEATTLE HISTORICAL SOCIETY CHAMPAGNE LUNCHEON: 11:30 am-1:30 pm, “Stand Tall for History” to celebrate SWSHS. The event’s at Salty’s on Alki (WSB sponsor).
GET YOUR QUESTIONS ABOUT RENOVATING/CUSTOM BUILDING ANSWERED – FREE! Ventana Construction (WSB sponsor) just told us a few spots remain open in its free workshop at their West Seattle HQ at noon. Info here.
ADOPT-A-THON FOR FOSTER CATS: Come meet the kitties and their foster parents, and consider offering a forever home. Noon-3 pm at Alki Community Center – details in our preview from earlier this week.
SOUTHWEST LIBRARY COMMUNITY ART SHOWCASE – LAST CHANCE TO PARTICIPATE! Last day to sign up to be part of the showcase, which starts tomorrow – details here.
KIDS’ ART SHOW TO BENEFIT SMILE TRAIN: 1-4 pm at Young At Art Studio (now at Fauntleroy/Raymond) – details in our calendar listing. YAA’s Theresa just e-mailed to invite you to “grab some super-cute kids’ art. They have worked hard for this event and are so glad to help the kids who need help.”
CIDER PRESSING AT VILLAGE GREEN: Come see the antique cider press in action, and taste the results. Bring apples, pears, even plums, and containers; 1-4 pm at Village Green Perennial Nursery (WSB sponsor), 10223 26th SW.
MEMORIALS TODAY: Two obituaries/memorial announcements published here on Friday are for gatherings today, so here’s one more mention: “Stumbletown” Steve Adams, 1 pm, Feedback Lounge (6451 California SW; WSB sponsor); Darrell Locklin, 2 pm, Forest Lawn (6701 30th SW; WSB sponsor).
LONGFELLOW CREEK WATERSHED WALK: The second in the three-Saturday series of walks with Feet First is today, 1 pm-3 pm. Meet at the P-Patch at 25th and Thistle; more info here.
SEATTLE LUTHERAN HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: The Saints are back home to take on Orcas Island at West Seattle Stadium, 1:30 pm.
ALKI TRIVIA CRAWL: Starts at 3 pm. Find out about it here.
CLICK! TURNS 8 AND THROWS A PARTY: Tonight at Click! Design That Fits (WSB sponsor) at 4540 California SW, you’re invited to help proprietors Frances and John Smersh (below) celebrate their 8th anniversary in business (six years in The Admiral District, two in The Junction).
(WSB photo by Torin Record-Sand)
Beer, pretzels, donuts, guest DJs (including WSB’s own “dj pops” for the first hour, we hear). 5 pm-9 pm.
EVERGREEN COMMUNITY AQUATIC CENTER FUNDRAISER: The aquatic center is in White Center but West Seattleites use it too; they’re having their first-ever benefit auction 7 pm-midnight in Normandy Park. Find out more here.
CANDYLANDIA DANCE PARTY: Second Saturday of the month at The Benbow Room, starting at 9 pm, 4210 SW Admiral Way.
More nightlife – and other events – on the calendar!
(Added 4:18 am – photo courtesy Gabe)
3:38 AM: If you’ve heard the sirens – big response to a house fire reported in the 5200 block of 45th SW (near Erskine, southwest of The Junction). First firefighters to respond have described the house over the radio as “well-involved” in flames, and also say everyone got out OK. More to come.
3:56 AM UPDATE: Firefighters have radioed that the fire is under control on the main floor of the house.
(Photos/video from here down: By WSB co-publisher Patrick Sand)
4:02 AM UPDATE: Our crew is there and says it’s still an intensive firefighting scene – the cameraphone photo above shows firefighters working with their air supply. The house itself is hard to see from the street because of trees/shrubs. Still no injuries reported.
4:19 AM UPDATE: Fire now reported “tapped,” which means, basically, out – firefighters had been working to ventilate (cut roof and/or siding holes) the house to make sure they’d gotten to all possible spots. Just added the photo at the top of the story – Gabe took that from a balcony overlooking the house, explaining, “We woke up to the neighbor across the street screaming ‘Help!’ and seeing his house on fire!”
4:52 AM UPDATE: SFD spokesperson Kyle Moore is at the scene and just briefed us (will add video of his briefing when our crew’s back, along with a few more photos). He says one man was inside the home when this started.
He told investigators that he had a fire going in the fireplace; spark/fire jumped from it, ignited something, and he tried to put it out but it spread too fast.
5:30 AM UPDATE: Added the aforementioned briefing video. Investigators are working to confirm the fireplace suspicion.
9:38 AM UPDATE: $150,000 damage, according to SFD, whose official online update is here.
4:37 PM: Police and fire are responding to a “heavy rescue” call at 8th and Roxbury (map) – reporting two vehicles and one motorcycle involved. One of the vehicles is described via scanner as “on its side.” The motorcyclist is described as “walking around” but we haven’t heard the condition of people in the two vehicles. On our way.
4:44 PM: Two private ambulances were called for people involved in the crash – but medic crews report via the scanner that the people are “refusing transport,” so the ambulances have been canceled. A tow truck is being called for the vehicle that’s on its side. Also hearing via scanner that 8th north of Roxbury is closed, so buses are being rerouted.
4:59 PM: Our crew at the scene says that while 8th is blocked by one of the vehicles – which are both pickup trucks – traffic is getting through both ways on Roxbury.
8:31 AM: Police and firefighters are on the scene of a two-vehicle crash on 41st near 102nd in Arbor Heights. SPD confirms it’s a crash; firefighters had to extricate a 57-year-old man from one of the vehicles and will be sending him to Harborview Medical Center, while a second person may go to the hospital via private ambulance. We’re en route to the scene, but scanner traffic in the meantime described the situation as a “T-bone” crash.
8:40 AM UPDATE: Our crew at the scene says the vehicle from which a man has been extricated is a Seattle Parks and Recreation truck, and has gone into a yard – stopping just feet from the house. The second victim, meantime, was indeed taken to the hospital. Neither was described as having life-threatening injuries.
9:03 AM UPDATE: Some of the crews have been cleared from the scene. A co-worker of the second victim told us the man is a construction worker who had been working on a project up the street. His red pickup truck is in the foreground of the photo we added above this update paragraph.
12:49 PM UPDATE: Seattle Parks tells us that the worker who was hurt was on his way to Lincoln Park, where he works out of the ground-maintenance facility. He is in stable condition.
Thanks to those who have e-mailed/called about a sizable police response on the east side of The Junction, in the 4500 block of 41st SW.
(Photos by Christopher Boffoli for WSB)
8:56 PM: Police are investigating an assault that officers on scene described to WSB’s Christopher Boffoli as a “domestic-violence situation,” and they say there are no suspects at large. Witnesses saw a woman taken away in handcuffs; a private ambulance was called, and Christopher saw a man being treated for a leg wound. We’ll be following up with police for any additional information.
12:15 AM UPDATE: Southwest Precinct Lt. Alan Williams confirms the suspect has been booked into jail. The victim, he says, was stabbed once in the leg with a knife, and is expected to recover.
(Photo by Patrick Sand)
Police were still talking to people at the scene, so we don’t have official information on how it happened, but a vehicle went up the embankment at Fauntleroy and Myrtle and took out one of the signs that the Gatewood Elementary PTA announced last February.
(Photo by Nick Adams)
No injuries reported.
9:03 AM: Police are blocking at least part of the area because of a crash that’s hurt at least one person. More shortly.
9:14 PM UPDATE: From co-publisher Patrick Sand at the scene, someone crossing 35th was hit by a vehicle. Since they’re being transported by private ambulance, injuries aren’t life-threatening. Eastbound Thistle and southbound 35th are most affected. Photo added.
A big police and fire “heavy rescue” response at 29th and Othello (map). Our crew at the scene says two vehicles collided near the intersection; one is on its side. Firefighters tell us one person is going to the hospital. That person is reported to be from the larger vehicle, and the injuries do not appear to be major.
(Photo courtesy Dave)
Earlier we reported on a flipped car – this evening, the problem on 33rd SW was a tipped truck. Police and firefighters responded to 33rd and Charlestown, which is just north of the stretch of Fauntleroy that runs along the southwest end of the West Seattle Bridge. They found the driver at the scene, but a passenger apparently took off after the crash. The 18-year-old male driver was not hurt, but was taken into custody; police were investigating this as a possible DUI.
11:03 AM: A two-vehicle crash including a flipped SUV and a minivan is blocking eastbound and all but one lane of westbound traffic at 26th and Roxbury. No serious injuries, though. Our crew at the scene says eastbound traffic is being diverted onto southbound 26th. (Thanks to Paul from WSB sponsor PB&J Textiles for the tip on this.)
11:24 AM UPDATE: Just checked back on the scene – tow trucks have arrived. Like the hit-run crash we covered in the same area back in June, this is mostly on the county side of the city/county boundary (which goes down the middle of Roxbury there) so King County Sheriff’s Office is investigating, and Seattle Fire was providing assistance at the scene.
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