Shoreline family targeted by acid attacks on their cars

SHORELINE, Wash. — A family in Shoreline is sharing surveillance video and asking for your help, after it says someone sprayed acid – or some other corrosive material – on the cars in their driveway, twice.

Homeowner, Shauna Hawthorne, says the first time it happened in August.

“It’s obviously a really dangerous substance that eats through paint down to the metal,” Hawthorne said.

At first, the family thought it was random, and installed security cameras as a precaution. But when it happened again Thanksgiving morning, the family knew they were being targeted.

“My heart dropped - it was like I can’t I cannot believe this is happening again,” she said.

The surveillance video shows an old Ford Crown Victoria as the car the suspect is driving.

“You can see out the back window some sort of super soaker device. And it shoots the substance all the way from there all the way, and it actually hit our garage door,” Hawthorne said.

The King County Sheriff’s Office says detectives are investigating. It says while car vandalisms are fairly common, it can’t remember the last time a corrosive material was used in a vandalism attack like this one.

Hawthorne says her family is especially worried for their five-year-old daughter and is considering moving.

“Obviously my kid is never going to be out in the front yard. I feel helpless and really fearful, because who knows what they’re capable of,” Hawthorne said. “It’s terrifying and I can’t even express - it’s like consumed me.”

The sheriff’s office says the family did the right thing by installing security cameras, and asks people in the neighborhood around 173rd and Ashworth Ave in Shoreline to keep an eye out for any suspicious cars.

And Hawthorne says she has a message for the suspect.

“Please stop. I don’t know what you’re angry about, but please stop. We are taking a lot of measures to catch you and we will catch you,” she said.

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