A series of sharp pops near Denny Park late Thursday night drew concern across South Lake Union, with people in and around the neighborhood describing a short burst that sounded like gunfire.

The sound appears to have carried beyond the park itself. People nearby reported hearing it from several blocks north of Denny Park, and others placed it closer to the area around 8th Avenue.

Early uncertainty centered on the usual question in dense city blocks: fireworks or gunshots. That ambiguity did not last long. Scanner chatter later indicated shell casings were found in an alley east of 230 8th Avenue, pointing to a shooting scene rather than holiday noise.

Denny Park sits amid apartment towers, storefronts and busy streets, so loud bursts can echo hard and seem farther away or closer than they really are. In a neighborhood built like South Lake Union, that can turn a few seconds of noise into a much wider moment of alarm.

This report reflects early witness accounts and community reports; it had not been independently confirmed by police as of publication. Source.