Kentridge High School, 12430 SE 208th St. COURTESY PHOTO, Kent School District

Kentridge High School, 12430 SE 208th St. COURTESY PHOTO, Kent School District

Gun fired during teen fight outside Kentridge High School

Incident occurred Monday evening, Jan. 27 outside gym packed with fans for unified basketball game

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.


Talk to us

Please share your story tips by emailing editor@kentreporter.com.

To share your opinion for publication, submit a letter through our website https://www.kentreporter.com/submit-letter/. Include your name, address and daytime phone number. (We’ll only publish your name and hometown.) Please keep letters to 300 words or less.

More in News

t
Cancer Center is open and ready to serve South King County

Cancer patients can now receive treatment at the Valley Medical Center in Renton.

t
Kent officers part of CW ‘Police 24/7’ episode Thursday night, Feb. 6

Department also part of future episodes after CW crews responded on calls with police in 2024

An Amtrak train in Kent. FILE PHOTO, STEVE HUNTER, Kent Reporter
Pedestrian, 30, dies in Kent collision with Amtrak train | Update

Medical examiner identifies Kent man struck Wednesday evening, Feb. 5 near East Titus Street

t
NTSB rules pilot lost control in 2023 Kent small plane crash

Pilot and passenger were injured; pilot flew without receiving training in plane model’s operation

Courtesy Photo, King County
Man receives 35-year sentence for 2021 Kent killing of mother

Duane Bates borrowed pipe wrench from neighbor in beating death and later returned it

A city of Kent Public Works crew member chains up a truck Feb. 3 to help clear snow from streets. COURTESY PHOTO, City of Kent
Kent schools closed for 3rd consecutive day due to icy conditions

Kent School District cancels classes on Wednesday, Feb. 5

t
World Relief office in Kent faces challenging refugee crisis

Trump’s executive order to suspend refugee resettlement directly impacts nonprofit

Courtesy Photo, Kent School District
Kent schools closed Tuesday, Feb. 4 due to icy roads

Second consecutive day of no school due to road conditions

Courtesy Photo, City of Kent
Kent Severe Weather Shelter to be open nights of Feb. 3-7

Shelter downtown at Holy Spirit Church will operate from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. each night

t
Kent Police hire officer who fatally shot Kansas man while on duty

Officer previously worked for Olathe Police Department; remains subject of wrongful death lawsuit

Calvin Watts. COURTESY FILE PHOTO, Kent School District
Ex-Kent schools’ superintendent Watts fired from Georgia job

Gwinnett County board terminates superintendent contract; Watts left Kent in 2021 for position