911 callers reported dozens of shots fired in a shootout involving at least two gunmen early Sunday morning in an alley near Pine and Melrose.
According to East Precinct radio reports and witnesses, the 2:30 AM shootout came as “last call” crowds moved around this edge of the Pike/Pine nightlife district, shattering glass at a nearby restaurant, riddling parked vehicles with bullets, and sending bullets flying into nearby apartments.
There were no reported injuries.
A paid parking sign with bullet holes marked the area where callers reported seeing the shootout begin in the alley behind the under construction Pivot mixed-use development. Bullets reportedly entered nearby apartment units including one above Melrose and a bullet crashing through a window of a Yale Ave building’s second floor.
Police flooded the area and closed E Pine to traffic at Melrose as they collected shell casings, gathered evidence, and interviewed witnesses. At least one break-in alarm was activated by a bullet smashing the window of a restaurant at the corner.
Police were searching for at least one suspect seen fleeing the area eastbound on Pine carrying a gun and multiple vehicles reported leaving the scene at the time of the shooting but descriptions were limited and there were no immediate stops or arrests.
The shooting came on a night with multiple shootings reported around Seattle including a man shot late Saturday near 12th and Main.
The shootout follows Mayor Bruce Harrell’s pledge Friday for the city to crack down on rising crime in Seattle with a “hot spot” emphasis to focus on specific areas of the city. Harrell said that means focusing on specific streets and often on specific individuals but declined to identify where the “hot spots” might be. “If you want to know, just read the blogs,” Harrell said.
UPDATE: In an afternoon brief on the incident, SPD called the shootout a “gunfight” and said officers found around 40 spent shell casings “of various calibers, bullet damage to multiple vehicles and buildings, but no victims.”
Police say detectives are working to gather surveillance video from the area. If you have any information, SPD asks that you contact the tip line at 206-233-5000.
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So he couldn’t name where patrols would be increased? Typical Bruce, talking to talk without giving actual details.
There a nights when whole areas of the city have 2 officers. No way “patrols” are going to be increased consistently until we get more police.
would you announce to criminals what your target zones are?
Generally, yes. When targeting a specific area for crime reduction, announcing an increased police presence in that area is a key element of the intended deterrent effect. Harrell’s reluctance to do so in this case is indeed a mystery.
no, because they just go somewhere else or lie low until the patrols go away.
That’s the intended effect, yes.
Hopefully our city council member will announce big plan to make her district safer tomorrow.
hahaha!
Between fires in tent citie and shootouts in nightclubs … what is she going to do first?
Probably go after Amazon for increasing the prime fees?
One of the laundry machines in my building has been broken for a few weeks. Perhaps she can organize a rally.
Nope, Too busy pushing Council Resolutions in support of unionizing Starbucks baristas. The most important issue in D3, obviously.
Guns are stupid. Single use stupid tool. They should all be molten into hand pruners and biscuit tins. Guns are not cool and do not add any length or girth to body parts. Have a good day Capitol Hill.
Make the cops get rid of them first.
🙌
Pine and Melrose? So, basically, the Baltic Room…I mean…Mint Lounge.
People talking about a police response that will change this like we haven’t had shootings at this exact location regularly for like a decade. If cops could do something about it they would have long ago. The cause is the club right there, no other night spot on the hill generates a fraction of the violence.
I don’t think the West Seattle, District #1 City Council member will care about crime until it impacts her residence in North Bend.