‘Horrific scene:’ Teen killed after being shot multiple times in Seattle
Oct 30, 2024, 6:52 AM | Updated: 9:42 am
A photo of an SPD vehicle responding to a crime scene. (Photo courtesy of SPD)
(Photo courtesy of SPD)
A teenage boy was killed in a shooting within Seattle’s Central District Monday night.
The Seattle Police Department (SPD) was notified of multiple shots fired at the intersection of 27th Avenue and East Spring Street and sent several officers to the scene. The shooting occurred just after 7:30 p.m. Monday evening.
Upon arrival, responding police officers found a 15-year-old boy with gunshot wounds and more than a dozen shell casings in the street.
“Police arrived and located a 15-year-old male suffering from gunshot wounds,” SPD Officer Brian Pritchard told KIRO Newsradio Tuesday. “Officers attempted life-saving measures until the Seattle Fire Department arrived. Despite life-saving efforts, unfortunately, the victim was pronounced deceased at the scene.”
SPD said it is currently working to confirm how many times the teenager was shot.
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According to KIRO 7, nearby witnesses reported a car allegedly sped off moments after the shooting took place. However, it’s not clear if this was a drive-by shooting. There is no suspect or vehicle description at this time.
“Just beginning their life,” Pritchard told KIRO 7. “And to have something like this happen to them is tragic, especially with something like this and such a horrific scene.”
Pritchard told KIRO Newsradio that Seattle residents are more on edge.
“When something like this happens it affects, not only that community, but it also affects all communities around Seattle,” he said. “People don’t feel safe.”
Prichard noted that SPD is working to solve the case.
“I know people feel as though police aren’t doing things they should be doing, but I can assure you we’re doing the best we can with what we have,” he told KIRO Newsradio.
Retired King County Sheriff John Urquhart had some recommendations.
“I think we need strict punishment, sure punishment,” he told KIRO Newsradio. “We need to get guns off the street, which is really easy to say. These are primarily stolen guns.”
“Primarily it’s teenagers and it seems like African American teenagers that are getting shot and killed and that’s just terrible,” Urquhart added. “It’s a catastrophe. Certainly, something needs to be done.”
Anyone with additional information about the shooting is asked to call the SPD Violent Crimes Tip Line at (206) 233-5000. Homicide Unit detectives are continuing to investigate.
Contributing: James Lynch, KIRO Newsradio; Julia Dallas, MyNorthwest; KIRO 7
Frank Sumrall is a content editor at MyNorthwest. You can read his stories here and you can email him here.
