Late Wednesday night, gunfire shattered the quiet in West Seattle’s Highland Park, sending neighbors to their windows and first responders racing toward the block. Residents reported hearing multiple shots and watching a large emergency response roll into the area. At least one person was hit and treated by medics at the scene.
According to the West Seattle Blog, Seattle police officers and Seattle Fire Department crews converged on the 7700 block of 11th SW after dispatch labeled the incident a "scenes of violence" response. Medics on the emergency radio described the victim as having multiple gunshot wounds to the torso and rump, while officers told dispatch they were checking whether the shooting might have happened at nearby Riverview Playfield. The initial report went up late Wednesday night as officers stayed on scene into the early morning hours.
"I heard five or six rounds before police arrived across the street," neighbor Angie Klevenberg told the West Seattle Blog. Another commenter, posting under the name "dburns," said they counted seven shots, then heard sirens about six minutes later. Several nearby residents said they dialed 911 as soon as the gunfire broke out.
Where officers focused their search
According to Seattle Parks and Recreation, Riverview Playfield is located at 7226 12th Ave SW, right up against residential blocks in the Riverview and Highland Park area. The complex includes multiple sports fields and parking areas, which tend to make any heavy police activity hard for neighbors to miss.
Investigation and how to report tips
As of early Thursday, detectives had not announced any arrests or released suspect information. Anyone with potentially useful information is urged to call 911 in an emergency or contact Seattle police through their non-emergency numbers and tip lines. The Seattle Police Department lists its non-emergency line and a Homicide Tip Line at (206) 233-5000, and anonymous tips can be sent to Crime Stoppers of Puget Sound through the P3 Tips app or by calling 1-800-222-TIPS.
This story will be updated if officials release more details. For now, neighbors and investigators are left to sort through a burst of late-night violence that has Highland Park on edge.
