4500 Fauntleroy Way SW — Approximate Block of March Armed Robbery
A shoplifting run at the Jefferson Square Safeway in West Seattle turned into an armed robbery investigation Monday afternoon after the suspect pulled out a handgun to fend off store security and flee. Police are now searching for the man, described as white, about 40 years old, wearing a black jacket, light jeans and blue sneakers, and carrying a black handgun.
The incident happened around 3 p.m. at the Jefferson Square Safeway, according to West Seattle Blog, which reported that what began as a routine shoplift escalated when the suspect flashed the weapon at store security to make his getaway. As of the site’s report, the suspect had not been located.
Not the First Time Security Has Clashed With a Shoplifter at This Store
This isn’t the first time a shoplifting attempt at this exact Safeway has spiraled into violence. In January 2025, a 42-year-old man was jailed after a shoplift-turned-robbery at the same Jefferson Square store, per the same outlet’s earlier report. In that case, police said the suspect threw an employee into a shelf, hit a customer, then took items and left — and officers arrested him roughly half an hour later walking near 35th Avenue and Avalon Way, where they recovered a toy guitar along with items stolen from the store…