Kent Police are looking for a 17-year-old boy who reportedly fired a gun at another teen in the Kentridge High School parking lot Monday evening, Jan. 27 while fans were inside the school gym watching an unified basketball game.
Officers were dispatched at about 7:40 p.m. to the school, 12430 SE 208th St., after a 911 call about a gun being fired outside the school and people running in the parking lot, according to a Jan. 28 Kent Police news release.
Multiple officers arrived at the school and attempted to locate witnesses to the incident, but after speaking with several people in the area, no one admitted to seeing or hearing anything of concern, according to police.
At about 8:09 p.m., however, Kentridge school security called 911 to advise they had found surveillance video of the incident.
The video reportedly showed two teens talking to each other, a physical altercation between the two and one of them pulling out a gun and shooting it at the other one, according to police. Nobody was injured. Both fled the scene.
School security identified both teens from the video, including the shooter as a 17-year-old male and former Kentridge student, according to police. The person he shot at is a current Kentridge student.
Kent Police Chief Rafael Padilla declined to reveal the gender of the student who was shot at.
“While we don’t have any indication that there is future conflict that may occur, it is always difficult to get a clear picture as to who is involved and for what purpose, particularly when it involves our youth,” Padilla said. “Young people sometimes have friend groups that become inspired to take retaliatory action on their behalf. In an effort to minimize this potential, we are not releasing the gender of the victim at this time.”
Detectives are investigating the circumstances that led up to the assault, and actively working to locate the suspect. Kent Police, including its School Resource officers are working with the School Safety Team to provide extra patrols and presence Tuesday, Jan 28 at the high school.
The shooting occurred during halftime of a Pack the Gym event, which features high school students with disabilities paired with student athletes in a basketball game. The gym was filled with fans and the parking lot filled with vehicles. The event began at 5 p.m. with food trucks and the gym opened at 6 p.m. The game started at 7 p.m.
Kentridge Principal Christa Ernst sent an email to the school community Monday evening about the incident.
“We are continuing our investigation working together with our law enforcement partners,” Ernst said in the email. “Students involved will be disciplined in accordance with Kent School District policies. Working with law enforcement and Kent School District Safety Services, it has been determined that this was an isolated incident.”
Ernst said to reassure the Kentridge community that school is safe, there will be a heightened police presence and extra school safety officers on campus Tuesday.
“The safety of our KR community continues to be our highest priority,” Ernst said. “As our investigation continues, we will make sure that those involved are held to account. As always we appreciate your support and advocacy in helping to keep our community safe.”
Police are asking anyone who witnessed the incident or with information regarding the shooter’s location, to email KPDTips@kentwa.gov, call the police tip line at 253-856-5808 or call 911.
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