(The Center Square) – A Glock recovered by the Seattle Police Department the day after the July 26 Bite of Seattle shooting was later identified as potentially the same one involved in a 2022 assault and a 2024 weapons violation case, records obtained by The Center Square show.
Meanwhile, several empty casings recovered by SPD were also potentially connected to two separate criminal investigations, including a 2024 Tacoma drive-by shooting.
Furthermore, SPD’s preliminary investigation hints at potentially five firearms fired at the scene.
However, SPD Public Information Officer Patrick Michaud says at this point the findings are preliminary and they are still investigating.
The shooting, which killed three people, sparked controversy over Mayor Katie Wilson’s handling of public safety in the city and delays in a press conference the night of the shooting that resulted in her asking for the resignation of the police chief. Wilson has since put out public safety plans but they have met with criticism from business groups and city council members.
The Center Square recently reported that U.S. Rep. Pramila Jayapal questioned Wilson’s competence while the mayor flipflopped on holding a press conference the same night of the shooting or the next morning.
According to the SPD report obtained by The Center Square through a public records request, a Glock was found near the Armory on July 27 and had modifications to make it fully automatic. The pistol was also found with a Kriss MAG-EX2 extended 40-round capacity magazine.
The Glock generated a National Integrated Ballistic Information Network investigative lead connecting it to a 2022 Pierce County Sheriff’s Department case in which a Glock was test fired by police in another investigation, as well as a 2024 Lakewood weapons violation case in which a cartridge from a Glock also produced a NIBID lead.
NIBIN is a specialized national database managed by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives that allows law enforcement to compare ballistic evidence from crimes.
Aside from the Glock, SPD also recovered casings for a .40 Smith and Wesson which generated a NIBIN lead a 2024 Tacoma drive-by shooting and a 2025 Seattle “shots fired” investigation.
According to a July 28 “NIBIN triage worksheet,” the recovered casings from the Bite of Seattle crime scene were likely fired from four separate firearms, though there may have been a potential fifth firearm.
However, the worksheet notes that it “is documentation of the screening process of evidence cartridge cases for entry into IBIS and does not represent microscopic comparison or conclusions.”
Michaud told The Center Square these NIBIN findings are not confirmed. Whether the department can verify “depends on the situation. It is possible to confirm it, but that involves certain investigative techniques.”
He added that SPD is having ongoing conversations with other law enforcement agencies about the preliminary findings, but they already hold weekly calls about guns or casings that could match crimes in their jurisdictions.
“It’s easy to go back and forth,” Michaud, referencing criminals. “Crimes don’t just take place here in Seattle.”
SPD is still searching for other potential suspects involving in the Bite of Seattle shooting.