16-year-old who allegedly threatened family arrested in connection with string of drive-bys in West Seattle

SEATTLE -- Police arrested a 16-year-old boy after he allegedly pulled a gun on his family Thursday morning. Now, the teen is being investigated in a string of drive-bys in the West Seattle area near his home, Seattle police said.

Police received reports of gunfire around 8 p.m. Wednesday in the 5400 block of Delridge Way SW. No one was injured in the shootings, but shell casings were recovered from the scene. A short time later at 10:45 p.m., police received more reports of a different shooting, this time near 17th Avenue SW and Delridge Way SW. Witnesses at that shooting told police a red four-door car had fled the scene following gunfire.

As police searched for the gunman, officers received reports of a third shooting around 11:30 p.m. at 23rd Avenue SW and SW Findlay Street. Again, similar shell casings were found at the scene and witnesses reported a red car fleeing following the shooting.

Near midnight, a fourth shooting was reported coming from a red vehicle near the intersection of Olson Place SW and 4th Avenue SW. Bullets struck another car in the shooting, but again, no one was injured.

Police continued to search for a red suspect vehicle until around 2 a.m., when officers received a report of a domestic disturbance involving a gun at a home in the 7700 block of 12th Avenue SW. When officers arrived, they learned that a 16-year-old boy had pointed a gun at his relative's head and pulled the trigger. The gun was not loaded at the time.

Police arrested the teen and seized the gun, which allegedly matched the caliber of shell casings recovered from the four drive-by shootings. A red Honda civic was also found parked near the teen's home, police said.

Officers booked the 16-year-old into the King County Youth Service Center for investigation of domestic violence harassment. Detectives are still investigating the teen in connection with the four shootings, officers said.