What was supposed to be a quiet Saturday in a sleepy cul-de-sac in unincorporated Arlington turned chaotic when stray bullets started tearing through backyards, sending parents, kids and pets scrambling for cover as rounds punched through a sliding glass door and chewed up a backyard playset.
Security-camera footage from one of the homes caught the whole thing on video, showing bullets striking the house and yard and coming uncomfortably close to people inside, according to FOX 13 Seattle. The outlet is one of several local stations that have aired clips from the scene.
The families involved, identified in local coverage as the Coker and Hand families, told reporters that one round shattered a sliding glass door and lodged in a computer. They also reported finding fresh marks on a trampoline and playset, yet somehow no one was physically hurt, according to The Daily Herald.
Deputies told homeowners they tracked the gunfire to neighbors who were target shooting through the woods. According to what the sheriff's office told reporters, those shooters were either missing the target or relying on an inadequate backstop. The sheriff's office has said deputies are referring criminal charges for reckless endangerment while the investigation stays active.
What the law says
Snohomish County guidance on recreational shooting states that target practice is allowed in some unincorporated areas, but only when shooters use an acceptable backstop and stay away from county-designated no-shooting zones, according to Snohomish County. The county warns that putting people or property in danger with gunfire can lead to criminal charges.
Under state law, reckless endangerment is defined as conduct that creates a “substantial risk of death or serious physical injury,” and it is treated as a gross misdemeanor under RCW 9A.36.050.
Residents demand answers
The families say the first deputy who showed up did not seem to grasp how serious the situation felt to them. According to their account, the deputy took written statements and, they say, repeatedly asked if they wanted to handle it as a civil matter instead of pushing for criminal charges, The Daily Herald reported.
They told reporters deputies collected a single bullet that was accessible in the shattered sliding door but left other casings in the yards. The emotional fallout has been harder to sweep up. One child, rattled by the barrage, later asked, “Are we gonna have bullets flying our way today?”
Officials say a complaint about the response has been filed, and the sheriff's office is reviewing how deputies handled the call under its standard procedures.
What to watch next
Investigators say they may refer charges to prosecutors as the sheriff's office continues its review. Neighbors say they plan to keep saving video, photos and other documentation if anything similar happens again.
In the meantime, the families have reinforced doors and say they are coaching their kids on what to do if gunfire erupts again, including ducking and running for cover. For now, they are waiting for the next update from law enforcement and hoping their cul-de-sac goes back to being boring.
