[WorldCase] Ash Street shootout
The 'Ash Street Shootout' that occurred on September 23, 1989, in the Hilltop area of Tacoma, Washington, was an incident involving U.S. Army Rangers exchanging gunfire. The incident stemmed from conflicts with a neighborhood plagued by drug trafficking and gang activity. At the time, Staff Sergeant Bill Foulk of the 2nd Ranger Battalion was urging stronger police response to address serious crime issues in the area. The incident ultimately catalyzed changes in community-police relations and fundamental reforms in the Tacoma Police Department.
In 1987, Foulk purchased a dilapidated house in Tacoma's Hilltop for $10,000. While he hoped to renovate the house and start a new life, the neighborhood gradually became afflicted with drugs and violence. When Foulk returned home from service in Panama in the summer of 1989, he began strongly advocating alongside neighbors for police action against drug trafficking and gang activity. However, the Tacoma Police Department was understaffed and underfunded, resulting in inadequate policing of the Hilltop area. Frustrated with the police's tepid response, Foulk and his neighbors began monitoring and photographing suspected drug houses to gather evidence.
The drug house across from Foulk's home was particularly problematic for residents. While its occupants denied drug dealing, Foulk monitored their activities and installed video cameras in his windows to record the house's movements. On September 23, Foulk hosted a barbecue with neighbors to discuss neighborhood security. He requested other Rangers to bring weapons to the gathering.
During the barbecue, people from the house across the street threw rocks and rotten pears at the video cameras and made threatening gestures, with one person firing a BB gun at Foulk's house. Foulk and several Rangers confronted them at the opposing house. Foulk continued filming their activities, and they threatened to kill him. However, the occupants of the house claimed the Rangers had mocked and ridiculed them.
Foulk eventually called for additional support. About 12 armed Rangers arrived at the house. The Rangers developed defensive plans, and Foulk installed wooden barriers. Then the shootout began, lasting between 5 and 30 minutes. Both sides made conflicting claims about who fired first. During the shooting, a party attendee called 9-1-1, and when police arrived, they briefly retreated before returning. Police couldn't control the situation until the shooting ended, with between 100 and 300 shots fired.
After the shootout, Tacoma Police criticized the Rangers. Police condemned them for not requesting police intervention before the shooting began, and Foulk's superiors criticized him for calling other Rangers to the scene. Nevertheless, Foulk maintained he couldn't expect police intervention, explaining that police only responded to crime scenes after the fact.
The incident prompted the Tacoma Police Department to begin implementing police reforms. They strengthened community cooperation and introduced a system for rapid response to crimes. Additionally, the community activated a crime reporting system through more community meetings, and drug house enforcement was intensified.
Foulk's promotion was subsequently delayed due to the incident, and Rangers were prohibited from visiting his house. He left the military in 1993 and continued living on Ash Street as of 2022, with bullet holes still visible in his house.
This incident became a crucial catalyst for reform in the Tacoma Police Department, and afterward, the community established a stronger foundation for fighting crime.
