A bout of gunfire in a Judkins Park filled with Central District little league football players and families left nerves frayed but fortunately no injuries or reported damage in the Saturday afternoon incident.
There were no reported arrests.
“We are shocked and saddened that this happened while cheerleaders, athletes, families, and the many fans that were in attendance at one of our games,” a statement on the gunfire incident from the board of the CD Panthers youth league team and cheer squad reads. “This was terrifying and traumatizing for us all. We are grateful that this situation did not find its way onto our field and that no one sustained any physical injuries.”
Police say multiple callers reported the gunfire just before 2 PM Saturday in the busy park. “One witness said the gunfire originated from someone inside a sedan that was stopped at an intersection just outside the park,” SPD’s brief on the incident reads. “The witness said a passenger got out of the vehicle and fired several rounds toward the park then sped off. Officers could not find any victims or suspects. It appeared no property was damaged.”The gun violence is part of what officials say is a major increase in shootings across Seattle and King County. The King County Prosecutor’s office says the first half of 2021 brought a 33% increase in incidents of gun violence and a more than 60% increase in reported victims. 42 people, meanwhile, died in gun violence incidents across the county in the first six months of the year.
In July, CHS reported on Seattle officials responding to a weekend of deadly gun violence in the city with calls for strengthening community-led programs and the police department’s budget, forgoing past efforts like emphasis patrols and greater on the street presence of officers.
While the pace of deadly shootings around the Central District and Capitol Hill has slowed, shots fired incidents have continued including this recent arrest at 21st and Union, and gunfire investigated earlier this month on Broadway. Meanwhile, young people continue to pay the highest toll like 21-year-old Sultan Ujaama who was shot and killed at 23rd and Jackson in June.
Area gunfire over the weekend was not limited to the Central District. Early Sunday morning just after midnight, police responded to multiple witness reports of gunfire in the 1400 block of East Olive St. Witnesses said the gunfire was originating from a person who was firing from their front door. “Officers spoke with the suspect, who admitted to firing his weapon in response to someone driving around the block threatening to harm his family,” police report. Meanwhile, police also investigated a Sunday afternoon shooting near 15th Ave S involving a ride-share vehicle that ended up riddled with bullets in an incident that remains under investigation.
At Judkins Park, community leaders including Converge Media journalist Omari Salisbury have called for the neighborhood to make its presence known at the park and help ensure a safe season for the CD Panthers.
This #GunViolence in our city has to stop now! Shots fired at a little league football game and our kids dodging bullets is not okay or acceptable. It is time for community to save itself and take back our streets. See you at Judkins Park. #WWConverge pic.twitter.com/FETKLIo5x5
— Omari Salisbury (@Omarisal) September 27, 2021
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