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About that early Saturday morning gunfire you heard on Capitol Hill… — UPDATE

If there is truly a staffing issue at Seattle Police and in the East Precinct, it wasn’t evident early Saturday morning after a bout of nighttime gunfire drew a small army of officers and ended with at least four people cuffed and in custody.

Five or so gunshots reportedly rang out across Pike/Pine just before 3 AM from the area near the Harvard Market parking lot. Police had already been responding to a large fight disturbance in the Broadway Mud Bay parking lot when East Precinct radio dispatches reported the firearm activity nearby.

With eyewitness help, police were able to locate where the gunfire occurred and rushed to the area of Seneca and Union. Suspects and a vehicle reportedly involved in the shooting were located nearby and four people were taken into custody at gunpoint in a scene crowded with officers and police vehicles.

There were no reported victims or serious injuries and there was no information about what precipitated the gun play. We also do not yet have arrest information from SPD on the incident. The 2012 Chrysler 300 was registered to a Joint Base Lewis-McChord address, according to East Precinct radio.

UPDATE 8/7/19: Police say four people were detained and one person was booked into jail for investigation of obstruction. Police also seized two handguns, and recovered a ballistic helmet and military style protective vests from the vehicle.

Regular nightlife emphasis patrols meant to increase the number of officers available in areas like Pike/Pine continue this summer in addition to increased efforts around gang violence and so-called “street disorder” launched by Mayor Jenny Durkan in May. Separately, SPD officials have said they face staffing issues due to general hiring issues for police in big cities across the country, while others have pointed to a lack of support in Seattle for police. The area around the Harvard Market shopping center at Pike and Broadway, meanwhile, has been identified as in need of security upgrades due to parking lots where crowds congregate. In July, CHS reported on a planned overhaul of the Harvard Market QFC. It’s not clear if the work will include security enhancements to the shopping center’s parking area.

Meanwhile, surface lots along Union and Harvard won’t be around for much longer. Development that will add around 150 apartment units and commercial space around the Knights of Columbus building will also include the land the lots currently call home.

 

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Inquiring Minds Want to Know
Inquiring Minds Want to Know
4 years ago

You do realize that, in cases where weapons are involved, SPD can call in officers from other precincts, don’t you?

Inquiring Minds Want to Know
Inquiring Minds Want to Know
4 years ago
Reply to  jseattle

That there can be a big response to an incident and the SPD can still be understaffed.

Jon jarry
Jon jarry
4 years ago
Reply to  jseattle

Yeah since you didn’t know that you should definitely edit the article so it’s not false or misleading.

DS
DS
4 years ago

SPD is quite understaffed. Emphasis patrols for the Pike/Pine area pull officers from other precincts.

seaguy
seaguy
4 years ago

Seems like as the hill has gotten less gay it has also gotten a little more violent with gun shots becoming more common. I lived on Bellevue Ave in Pike Pine for 25+ yrs from early 90’s to 2015 and would often to go Neighbours, Cuff, R-Place till closing and fights in the parking lot were not a thing. But as the gay bars closed and straight bars opened it brought a crowd that seems to prefer to settle disagreements with guns and fist fights.

StillLooksGaytoMe
StillLooksGaytoMe
4 years ago
Reply to  seaguy

Aren’t all 3 of those bars still open?