A gang confrontation outside Southcenter Mall Sunday night resulted in gunfire and a multi-agency police response.
There were no injuries, but multiple youths were detained, including one 15-year-old armed with a pistol.
The trouble began 5:30 p.m., when Southcenter Mall security officers saw a group of eight to 10 teens congregating in a mall parking lot. The officers believed a fight was about to start, and went to disband the group. But some of the youths identified themselves as gang members and tried to intimidate the officers.
The security officers backed off and called for assistance from Tukwila Police officers who were working off duty at the mall. When those officers responded, the group of youths scattered and several shots were fired, although they were not aimed at police.
At that point, Tukwila officers called for support from surrounding departments, and officers from Renton, Kent and Des Moines responded, helping Tukwila Police detain six youths – one of them the 15-year-old with a pistol. Officers processing the scene located two more loaded pistols on the ground.
As of Sunday night, while suspects have made claims of gang affiliation, “witnesses from the group have not been fully cooperative with investigators,” the Tukwila Police press release reads.
Anyone with additional information is urged to contact Tukwila Police at 206-433-1808.
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