Multiple Seattle schools delay classes after deadly shooting near Rainier Beach High, $5k reward issued

Four schools within the Seattle Public Schools (SPS) District are delaying classes in the Rainier Beach area after a deadly shooting killed two teenagers Friday.

South Shore PK-8 will start with a two-hour delay at 10:55 a.m., while Rainier Beach High School, Alan T. Sugiyama High School, and Interagency Academy Southeast will begin at 12:30 p.m. Dunlap Elementary School announced it is staying on its regular schedule.

The district stated the delays give staff time to support students and families, while police continue their investigation.

2 teenagers killed near Rainier Beach High School

The Seattle Police Department (SPD) is searching for a suspect who shot and killed two teenagers near Rainier Beach High School on Friday afternoon.

According to KIRO 7, both of the teens were students in the SPS district. KIRO 7 also reported that it appeared one officer was injured, as an officer was taken away on a gurney, but the media outlet noted the officer was conscious and upright.

“As you can imagine, arriving here, it was a chaotic scene,” Seattle Police Assistant Chief Tyrone Davis said. “It was an emotional scene. We did have to hold some people back. There was an injury involved.”

The shooting occurred at the intersection of Rainier Ave. S. and S. Henderson St., near Rainier Beach High School, just after classes had dismissed. The victims were pronounced dead at the scene, according to Seattle Fire.

SPD Detective Eric Munoz confirmed the shooting was a double homicide.

Suspect flees shooting near Rainier Beach High School

The suspect fled the scene on foot before police arrived, SPD reported. Officers searched the area, but did not find the suspect. A King County Sheriff’s Office helicopter assisted in the search for the shooter, as well as SPD K-9 units.

Davis said finding the killer will involve help from witnesses who were in the area.

“We truly believe that people saw what happened here,” Davis said. “We can’t figure this out without your help. Please, if you have information or you witnessed what happened, call us.”

The shooting was believed to be targeted, with an investigation now underway.

“We spend a lot of time working with members of the community to figure out how we can keep people safe,” Davis said. “Anytime something like this happens, it’s heartbreaking, because it’s not a true reflection of what this neighborhood is.”

$5,000 reward offered

A $5,000 has been offered by The Youth Peace and Justice Foundation for information leading to an arrest and conviction of the suspect or suspects responsible for the deadly shooting of two students in Seattle’s Rainier Beach neighborhood.

“Violence thrives in silence,” the foundation stated. “We believe community members deserve safe ways to come forward, and families deserve answers.”

The identity of the teenage victims has yet to be released, as of this reporting.

This is a developing story, check back for updates

Contributing: Julia Dallas, MyNorthwest

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