Teenager shot at Kent park as children played nearby

KENT, Wash. — Kent police said they’re investigating a Saturday shooting at a park inside King County’s Birch Creek housing development that sent one teenager to the hospital in critical condition as children played nearby. The boy is expected to survive.

Police were not able to release additional details Sunday about the suspected shooter.

The gunfire was reported around 5:30 p.m. at the housing development near 132nd Ave SE and Kent Kangley Road, according to police.

Investigators could not yet provide an age for the victim, only describing him to KIRO 7 as a “young male.”

Video from the crime scene showed officers taking statements from young children at the park and shell casings along with an abandoned stroller.

“Since it’s been sunny, there’s been a lot of noise out here with kids,” said a neighbor who spoke with KIRO 7 but didn’t want to be publicly identified. “My dog started barking, I came out a few minutes later and saw all the fire engines, the police.”

Police said they responded and found the victim bleeding in the park. He was transported to Harborview Medical Center where he underwent surgery.

Police said he was out of surgery by 9 p.m. Saturday.

Investigators say the victim was involved in an altercation with several others but couldn’t immediately say what started the altercation.

Detectives were speaking to neighbors and working to collect surveillance video from the mounted cameras inside the development, police said.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or the Kent Police tip line 253-856-5808.

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