More than 100 bullets rip through Rainier Valley neighborhood

SEATTLE, Wash. — Police are investigating two drive-by shootings that are likely related.

Both involved more than 50 shots fired with a handgun and a rifle.

Thursday night, businesses and car windows were shot up along Rainier Avenue South near 56^th Street.

“I’m not going to be able to do any business until this is fixed,” said Tino’s Pizza's  Sorin Ragsdale, as he swept up glass.  “With all the shootings, we’ve been thinking about selling.”

Monday night, there was a similar shooting a block away down 56^th.  It happened at about 11 o'clock at night in the back corner of an apartment complex.  Richard Stratton was lying in bed when he heard the first few shots.

“Sounded like large explosions,” Stratton said.  “Then I looked out the window.  You could just see the whole area lighting up.”

The light show lasted for two or three minutes.  A few of the bullets punched through the wall of a nearby Mexican restaurant.  One of the shots hit a napkin holder after passing inches from a worker's head.

Seattle police are promising more patrols in the neighborhood, and there was a visible police presence in the area Friday night.

A police captain said the shootings did not appear to be random and detectives believe there is an ongoing “beef” in the neighborhood.

KIRO