Single shot fired after fight inside Southcenter Mall

TUKWILA, Wash. — Tukwila police are trying to figure out if one of four teens detained for questioning after a shooting at Southcenter Mall is, in fact, the shooter himself.

The shooting, which resulted in a minor hand injury for one of the teens, occurred just after 5 p.m. at the Tukwila mall.

Witness Nick Jensen said teens began fighting inside the Apple store and the brawl moved outside to the common area.

“Then all of a sudden, out of nowhere, a gunshot went off,” Jensen said. “We got outside, next thing we know, see the helicopter get up, airborne, we see Five-O show up everywhere.”

Chopper 7 showed the number of police units that responded.

Viewers sent in photos of some of the teens who were detained sitting on the mall floor. KIRO 7 also spotted one of them in the back of a cop car.

Jamani Thomas, who works at the mall, said he saw a teen with a beard fire the gun.

“He shot the gun in the air and then he ran out the door and all the cops were looking for him,” Thomas said.

On Monday night, police said members of the group they detained denied knowing the other teens they were fighting.

Shoppers said the incident was nerve-wracking.

“If they misfire and you’re standing next to them … that could have been my kid being shot or me being shot,” shopper Latrisha Tatro said.

Police said there is mall surveillance video, though it was unclear Monday night what exactly it showed.

Tukwila Police Commander Eric Drever said police will provide an update on Tuesday.

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