Neighbors near 79th and Greenwood had a disturbing experience last night. Police responded to a massive private party there, with an estimated 350 people crammed into a room. The party organizers were pleading with people to leave, and SPD says they were asked to help shut down the event. Seattle Police explains what happens next:
“As the crowd was exiting the west entrance, about 200 additional persons converged upon the front of the building, having approached from nearby alleys and parking areas. Dispatched calls of shots fired in the area were broadcast. Numerous fight disturbances broke out simultaneously and officers were surrounded by converging crowds while seeking to break up fights.”
Seattle Police quickly called for backup — even officers from the UW responded — and scattered fights continued in the area, officers say. Finally, the crowd settled down and dispersed. Despite numerous reports of shots fired, no gunshot victims were found. (Thanks JM for the tip.)
25 responses so far ↓
1 Phinneyman // Jun 27, 2009 at 9:54 am
Wow.
2 AMC // Jun 27, 2009 at 10:09 am
Does anyone know anything more? All sounds so dramatic!
3 etta // Jun 27, 2009 at 10:11 am
I live on N. 81st near Greenwood, had the windows open, and didn’t hear a thing.
4 etta // Jun 27, 2009 at 10:13 am
at the Masonic Center, according to posts to the Car Show story.
5 christy // Jun 27, 2009 at 10:51 am
I’m 2 blocks down the hill and I didn’t hear a thing either.
6 Whopper // Jun 27, 2009 at 11:00 am
Stay classy Greenwood!
7 Francis Engine // Jun 27, 2009 at 11:21 am
I saw a lot of it from my deck, and it really looked like someone was tased.
8 PARTY OFFICER // Jun 27, 2009 at 11:38 am
Had to be either at the Masonic Temple or Valentines. I guess some folks just go crazy for the Car Show!!
9 Mike // Jun 27, 2009 at 11:41 am
We were walking home from the Gainsbourgh and passed through this mess in front of the Mason’s building just as the police were showing up. I’d consider this more in the area of Phinney Ridge, Whopper, you putz. Anywho, yeah, we got the heck out of there, but cars and crowds of people were still showing up as we headed south. 2:30 this morning we heard gunshots and cars racing up the street. Summer in the city. Ahhhhhhh….
10 Mike // Jun 27, 2009 at 11:42 am
It was the Mason’s lodge, NOT Valentines.
11 Leroy // Jun 27, 2009 at 3:12 pm
The shots were fired at about 11:00 PM, of which there were three. The first squad car arrived about 10-15 minutes after that. Then a cop or two went in and ushered a TON of people out. There were a lot of angry, obnoxious patrons screaming and yelling and holding each other back. At one point, the massive crowd all started screaming and running in one direction which led me to believe another gun was in the mix. At one point there were about 25 squad cars, a paddy-wagon and several bike cops all telling the crowd to disperse, which took a long time.
Just for the record, those old Masons have been regularly renting their space out to these hoodlums for a while now. They are very loud and annoying every time, but this is the first time shots have been fired–hopefully it’s the last.
12 etta // Jun 27, 2009 at 3:47 pm
Geez, I slept thru that?! Did you see this first hand, Leroy?
13 Leroy // Jun 27, 2009 at 4:07 pm
As soon as the shots were fired I went outside and watched everything from then on. I knew it was a gun because the blasts were very evenly sequential unlike firecrackers.
14 jm // Jun 27, 2009 at 4:12 pm
Was it a country and western square dance?
15 Rob Haberman // Jun 27, 2009 at 4:32 pm
At 9:30 p.m. Friday I was walking my dog and saw a young man knocked down and assaulted next to Gainsbourgh (sp?) on Greenwood Ave. N. by at least one young man in a group of guys that I believe I saw arriving at the party at the Masonic Hall a few minutes later. The group was loud and excited enough before the jumping that I was very anxious. Some burly patrons from GB stopped the attack and drove off the attackers. Probably the Masonic Hall is really needing renters, but it sounds like they need to wake up. Parties like this must be done meticulously to ensure that bad things don’t happen-limited numbers, good security people, parents on hand, selective invitation only, no coming and going, etc. Surely there are discrimination issues that must be taken into account, but if last night’s kind of scene is going to be happening regularly, it is only a matter of time before someone is killed and it may well be someone completely outside of whatever conflict is being played out.
16 PhinneyMom // Jun 28, 2009 at 6:51 am
Has anybody found out who it was being rented to? Here’s the Masonic Lodge rental phone number: (206) 789-0575.
17 Greenwood_D // Jun 28, 2009 at 1:27 pm
@Mike
Yeah, Whopper’s borders get a bit “hazy” when the craziness is close to HIS ‘hood.
I do believe he has stated numerous times that anything below 85th is “safe”.
So, the lack of info. on this thing is strange.
Were these people involved with the car show?
Was their underage people renting without a license?
ALL sorts of significant unknowns.
18 Whopper // Jun 28, 2009 at 3:21 pm
“Surely there are discrimination issues that must be taken into account”
What discrimination issues? Do you mean this wasn’t a country and western event?
19 Whopper // Jun 28, 2009 at 3:23 pm
” Whopper’s borders get a bit “hazy” when the craziness is close to HIS ‘hood.”
What? Was a bunch of wild Phinney mom’s throwing an out of control bake sale?
20 StephenC // Jun 28, 2009 at 4:03 pm
Oh Whopper, you crack me up with your witty humor. Now go back to filling out your “Rants and Raves” entry for next week’s Sunday Times…
21 Stupid Hippie // Jun 28, 2009 at 4:49 pm
Absolutely Rob, it’s important we welcome multicultural events here in Phinney and never discriminate.
22 Trix // Jun 28, 2009 at 5:01 pm
It sounds like this happened the night before the car show. So, I really doubt it had anything to do with that. Just a Friday night party getting out of hand. Really out of hand.
I bet the Masonic lodge can answer a lot of those unknowns, though, Greenwood D.
23 johnnybravo // Jun 30, 2009 at 8:40 am
i blame global warming.
24 JohnnyG // Jul 6, 2009 at 2:11 pm
79th is technically in Greenwood. The dividing line for city neighborhoods is 75th. I live on the north side of the street and regularly have it out with my “neighbors” on the south side. Seriously. These conflicts are worse than the Eastside/Westside conflicts I’ve encountered.
25 TJ // Jul 8, 2009 at 8:37 am
I found this site just today. We got fallout from this on 82nd when two guys jumped our back fence around 11:30 - 12:00. I was yelling at them to get out. I called 911. Several officers arrived 2-3 minutes later and got them out on the street. They had been chased and jumped into our yard. I didn’t know about the Masonic Lodge incident until a neighbor mentioned it.
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