Kent Police to announce major break Sept. 15 in car-show shooting

Kent Police Chief Ken Thomas will announce a major break Thursday in the July 23 gang shooting at a lowrider car show that injured 12 people.

Thomas will give details about arrests in the case at a news conference at 11 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 15, according to a Kent Police media release. Thomas will hold the conference at the site of the shooting, the La Plaza strip mall, 23311 Pacific Highway S., on the West Hill.

Other regional law enforcement executives and city officials will join Thomas at the press conference. Thomas will announce a major breakthrough in the investigation and provide information about steps being taken to apprehend those involved.

A physical disturbance led to several gang members firing guns into a large crowd of people. While many of those injured were gang members, several of the injured had no ties to gang activity but had merely come to view the cars.

Since those assaults, dozens of investigators have poured through evidence, surveillance video, and interviewed dozens of witnesses and victims in an effort to put together a clear picture of the events of that day, according to the media release. As a result, police are now working to capture those identified suspects.

“Law enforcement agencies from throughout the region have dedicated significant resources to identify those involved in this incident and bring them to justice," Thomas said in the media release. “These arrests are just the first wave in an on-going effort to dismantle these violent gangs."

It’s anticipated that coordinated efforts spearheaded by the South King County Violent Gangs Initiative and other partnering agencies will bring additional arrests in the near future, according to Kent Police.

Contact Kent Reporter Courts, government reporter Steve Hunter at shunter@kentreporter.com or 253-872-6600, ext. 5052.

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