US Army Rangers Were Caught In A Shootout With Local Gang Members In A Tacoma, Washington Neighborhood

During the 1980s, illicit substances were prevalent on American streets, causing a rise in gang-related violence. Although comparable issues persist today, particularly involving opioids, the epidemic of the 1980s and ’90s had its own distinct characteristics. A notable event from this period occurred in Tacoma, Washington, where a shootout ensued between US Army Rangers and local gang members, emphasizing the era’s volatile nature.

Staff Sgt. William Foulk bought a house in a rough neighborhood

The Crips had a large presence in Tacoma, Washington in the 1980s. (Photo Credit: Getty Images)

Army Ranger Staff Sgt. William “Bill” Foulk, assigned to the 2nd Ranger Battalion and stationed at Fort Lewis in Washington, purchased a house 10 miles away, in Tacoma. The residence, in the city’s Hilltop district, was notorious for its rampant gang violence. Despite the area’s challenges, Foulk purchased it for a mere $10,000, anticipating its potential for appreciation in the future.

While Foulk may have perceived the neighborhood as undergoing a transformation, he may not have fully comprehended its dire circumstances. Open transactions and the brazen display of automatic weapons by gang members were commonplace. Known as the “Wild West” of gang shootings, the Hilltop neighborhood epitomized the extreme level of criminal activity in the area.

Compounded by an understaffed police force, Tacoma lacked the necessary resources to match the firepower wielded by these gangs.

Houses along the block saw serious gang activity

In the 1980s, the city of Tacoma was besieged by gang violence. (Photo Credit: Ben Cody / Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain)

Staff Sgt. Foulk had a hunch that residents of a neighboring house on Ash Street, where he resided, were engaged in illicit substance sales.

In an effort to gather proof, he positioned a camera in one of his windows. The gang members soon discovered the surveillance setup and attempted various methods to disable it, such as hurling rotten pears at the camera. When these efforts proved ineffective, they resorted to shooting at it.

Foulk directly confronted the gang, demanding they cease their shooting and illegal activities in the neighborhood. As expected, they reacted unfavorably, insisting that the Army Ranger should mind his own business—a request he had no intention of honoring.

The Ash Street shootout of 1989

The firefight on Ash Street was eventually stopped when Tacoma police showed up. (Photo Credit: Wurzer / Getty Images)

Following his interaction with the gang members, Staff Sgt. Foulk became convinced they may attack him. He sent away his wife and asked his fellow Rangers to come over for a barbecue. Between 10 and 15 obliged and came armed with some serious weaponry. This turned out to be a smart move, as on September 23, 1989, Foulk’s residence came under fire.

The gang was likely shocked when the Army Rangers took up proper defensive positions and returned fire. The fight went on for 10 to 30 minutes, before police officers arrived on the scene and put an end to it. Most of the gang members ran away, but two were detained and charged with assault and weapons offenses.

The Rangers were not charged, but their weapons were confiscated.

Aftermath of the shootout

The Ash Street shootout changed how Tacoma residents approached neighborhood safety. (Photo Credit: Jacob Rose / Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 4.0)

The most amazing thing about the Ash Street shootout was that no one was killed or hurt, despite over 100 rounds being fired. Maj. Clyde Newman of the 2nd Ranger Battalion said of the incident, “From everything I am told by the city police, the Rangers were right. They were having a party, and they were attacked.”

Sam Thrall, a police sergeant, noted, “I think what happens now is we go up to Ash Street and clean them out… We have a real concentration of bad guys there and the neighborhood has finally clashed with them face to face. The fact that nobody got hurt – it is kind of amazing.”

The incident was a turning point for Tacoma, as it drew attention to the rampant crime in the city. Residents became involved in policing their own neighborhoods and created a safe spaces program that remains in place to this day. City officials also adjusted their budget to ensure additional police officers could be hired.

The Hilltop neighborhood completely changed

The Hilltop neighborhood in Tacoma, Washington has vastly improved. (Photo Credit: Jacob Rose / Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 4.0)

Want War History Online‘s content sent directly to your inbox? Sign up for our newsletter here!

The shootout on Ash Street was wild and chaotic, but, eventually, Tacoma’s Hilltop neighborhood became one of the city’s safest. As for Staff Sgt. Foulk, his investment became an incredible success. According to RedFin, the house he purchased for $10,000 is now worth well over what he paid – between $330,000 and $450,000!