Local

Innocent teen shot near community center, police search for suspects

SEATTLE — Seattle police say an innocent teenager was shot near the Rainier Beach Community Center Tuesday afternoon after a "disturbance" nearby escalated into gunfire. Detectives are still searching for the suspects who managed to escape.

Chopper 7 was overhead as the teen, who's around 18 years old, according to firefighters, was moved out of the community center on a stretcher and transported to Harborview Medical Center. Police say he's stable and expected to recover.

According to several reports, the teen went into the community center for help after getting shot.

Seattle police say a "disturbance" involving a man standing near Henderson Street and Rainier Avenue, and several people in a car, quickly escalated into gunfire that injured the teen around 4:20 p.m.

The suspects in the car sped off, according to police, who said they were able to later locate two cars that appeared to be connected to the shooting.

Neighbors on 37th Avenue South, less than 10 minutes away from the community center, told KIRO 7 they reported an abandoned car to police that had been ditched shortly after the shooting. Three to four people were spotted running from that car and getting into a white car that was parked nearby, according to neighbors.

Police arrived with K-9s but came up empty-handed after searching the area.

It's not yet clear what started the disturbance that led to the shooting near the community center and Rainier Beach High School – an area busy with children at that time of day. There were no other reported injuries.

At last check, police were waiting for search warrants to go through the two cars they've impounded.

Detectives are now looking for surveillance video that may have captured the shooting. Contact police with information related to the shooting.

More news from KIRO 7

DOWNLOAD OUR FREE NEWS APP