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VANCOUVER - Two teenage boys were arrested Tuesday afternoon, Vancouver police say, after entering the Jim Parsley Community Center with a concealed, stolen handgun following an altercation and drive-by shooting in the parking lot.
No one was wounded in the drive-by shooting in central Vancouver that prompted nearby Roosevelt Elementary School to lock its doors. The shooter, an unidentified male, drove off before police arrived, according to a police department news release.
Police responded about 12:10 p.m. to a report of a drive-by shooting in the parking lot of the center, 4100 Plomondon St. Officers recovered three shell casings near the entrance of the parking lot, according to the police department.
Roosevelt Elementary School, which neighbors the community center, briefly entered secure status — locking its doors and restricting entry and exit — while officers investigated. School officials also alerted law enforcement, according to a letter sent to families from the school.
Three students, who are a part of the IMPACT and Back on Track programs at the Jim Parsley Center, reported to law enforcement they were shot at in the parking lot east of the center. Two of the students who reported the gunshots were later arrested for possession of a handgun, according to the letter.
“We appreciate that this information is very unsettling. We will continue to work to review our safety protocols and partner with law enforcement to best handle these types of safety concerns,” the letter states. “We will have … counselors on site tomorrow if you need additional support.”
According to police, an altercation occurred among several individuals in the lot before an unknown male fired several rounds from a vehicle and then fled the scene.
During the investigation, police learned that one of the teens involved in the incident had run into the Jim Parsley Center carrying a handgun wrapped in a sweatshirt. Surveillance footage later showed the teen handing the sweatshirt to another teen, who tried to conceal it while inside the building. Officers located the sweatshirt and discovered it contained a stolen handgun, according to the police news release.
Police later escorted the two teenagers in handcuffs from Vancouver Public Schools’ district offices.
A 15-year-old boy and a 17-year-old boy were booked into the Clark County juvenile detention center on suspicion of second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm, possession of a stolen firearm and possession of a dangerous weapon on school grounds.
The police department’s Crime Reduction Unit is continuing to investigate to identify and locate the shooter and anyone else who fled the scene, according to the news release.
The IMPACT and Back on Track programs at the Jim Parsley Center will be switching from in-person to remote learning for the remainder of the school year.
SOUTH HILL, Wash. — A 42-year-old woman has been charged in connection to a crash that left a beloved member of Pierce County’s motorcycling community dead on Sunday.
Police said Christy Lynn Carter was driving under the influence when she struck and killed 52-year-old Dean Smith in South Hill.
Carter was charged Tuesday with one count of vehicular homicide in Pierce County Superior Court and her bail was set at $100,000.
On Sunday, May 25, Smith, who was known to many as "Fish Hook," was riding to dinner alongside his wife when a speeding white Jeep Cherokee SUV, registered to Carter, crossed the centerline. The driver hit Smith head-on, killing him, and grazed his wife.
First responders responded to the scene near the 11900 block of 152nd Street East in the South Hill area of Puyallup.
Carter was found outside the SUV and police noted in reports that she smelled of alcohol. She consented to a breathalyzer test and blew a BAC of .15%, charging documents state, which is nearly double the legal limit in Washington.
Police said Carter was mumbling and appeared confused. When speaking with officers, Carter allegedly said she remembered driving, but didn’t remember what happened. She also reportedly told police she had two drinks and a marijuana gummy earlier in the day.
Police said they found a gummy and a marijuana joint inside her purse, along with Carter’s driver’s license.
Carter failed all field sobriety tests and police said in the report that the effects of alcohol and drugs were “obvious.” She reportedly asked officers at least twice after the collision if she had hit someone with her car.
A witness identified Carter as the driver and only occupant of the white SUV.
Dozens of people from different bike clubs met at a pub in Spanaway on Monday to remember their friend Fish Hook.
“You'll never meet another one like him,” said Jeff Davis, a friend of 15 years. “He was a guy that every one of us could count on, and it's a shame someone's poor decisions robbed the world of someone like that.”
AUBURN, Wash. — Two suspects have been arrested after a 15-year-old boy was shot Tuesday afternoon at an Auburn train station.
The Auburn Police Department responded to reports of a shooting around 2:30 p.m. at the Sound Transit train station in Auburn.
At the scene, officers found a teenager had been shot at least once. He was taken to Harborview Medical Center. The teen is in serious condition, according to a hospital spokesperson.
Police have not shared any information about what led up to the shooting.
A short time after the shooting, a 15-year-old suspect was taken into custody, police said. A second suspect was identified and has also been arrested.
If you have information about this shooting, police said to call its tip line at 253-288-7403.
SEATTLE — Some residents in West Seattle are on edge following a series of unusually similar car crashes in their neighborhood, which they believe was intentional.
Over the past two weeks, there have been four separate incidents involving a car rolling down and crashing on Southwest Alaska Street, a steep hill in a residential area. Multiple residents say the vehicles involved were all Hyundai sedans and appeared to be unmanned.
“The thing is, we come out and look at them: nobody is there. The airbags have deployed. Nobody’s in the car. We never see them,” said neighbor Erik Jaderquist.
The most recent crash occurred late Sunday evening, when a Hyundai collided with a power pole. The impact led to a power outage as crews worked to make repairs. Home security footage shows the car barreling down the hill, followed closely by another vehicle that appeared to be filming the incident.
“Well, you wonder — it’s probably the same bunch of people. Four different times, and each time they’re increasing their risk of being caught. Why just this hill?” Jaderquist added.
The other crashes occurred overnight on May 14, May 19, and May 21, damaging trees, street signs, and a parked car.
“It’s just ridiculous to me that people think it’s fun to send cars crashing down hills into who knows what,” said neighbor Marie Tipton.
According to several residents, police have told them the incidents may be linked to a TikTok trend, and that similar crashes have been reported in other parts of Seattle.
However, the Seattle Police Department has not confirmed this information to KING 5.
TACOMA, Wash. — Seattle SuperSonics legend Shawn Kemp has pleaded guilty to second-degree assault, avoiding an upcoming trial.
Kemp was initially charged with first-degree assault for a 2023 shooting in a Tacoma Mall parking lot. Last week, prosecutors added a second first-degree assault charge, also with a firearm enhancement, because two men were in the vehicle at the time Kemp confronted them with a gun.
His sentencing is set for Aug. 22 at 1:30 p.m.
"The plea agreement between the parties is for an open sentencing recommendation, meaning each side is free to make its own recommendation to the judge at the sentencing hearing," Pierce County Prosecuting Attorney's Office spokesperson Adam Faber said Tuesday morning.
The standard sentencing range for second-degree assault is 3 to 9 months, with a year of community supervision. Court documents for Kemp's plea deal said the prosecuting attorney will recommend to a judge that Kemp be sentenced to 9 months in jail and a year of community custody.
Following sentencing, Kemp will not be allowed to own or carry a gun, possess ammunition, or have a concealed pistol license.
If Kemp had allowed the trial to continue, a conviction on the first-degree assault charges with a firearm enhancement could have amounted to 15 years behind bars.
“If you are Shawn Kemp, there's a big temptation to roll the dice with the jury,” said Mark Lindquist, a former Pierce County prosecutor and current aviation attorney. “Shawn is still a legendary figure here in the Northwest and celebrities tend to do well with juries. That said, the prosecutor put a sweetheart deal on the table that would be foolish to turn down."
On March 8, 2023, officers answered a call of reported shots fired in the parking lot of the Tacoma Mall, located on the 4500 block of South Steele Street. Tacoma police determined two men in separate cars were involved in an altercation that resulted in one of the drivers firing several shots at the driver of the other car.
No one was injured, but Kemp, who was identified as the alleged shooter, was later charged with first-degree assault. Kemp said he was just following up after thieves broke into his truck and stole valuables, including a cell phone, a few nights before.
Kemp tracked the cell phone to a car in a Tacoma shopping mall parking lot, but said when he tried to speak with the two men inside, they opened fire. Kemp claimed he shot back in self-defense, but police said video from witnesses at the scene does not support Kemp’s account. In May 2023, Kemp pled not guilty to the assault charges and was released without bail.
“Shawn is in a sympathetic position here. He was being ripped off,” Lindquist said. “Where he went wrong was not involving the police and taking it upon himself to seek justice."
Scott Boatman, Shawn Kemp’s personal attorney, issued a statement after the plea deal:
"The State’s willingness to reduce its charges from two counts of assault one with a gun enhancement to a single charge of assault two without any enhancements and to further allow us to ask for no jail time is appreciated by Shawn and his team,” Boatman wrote. “We feel that the plea agreement recognizes Shawn’s attempt to defend himself while trying to recover his stolen property from two currently incarcerated criminals, while at the same time recognizing Shawn’s significant work in the Seattle community helping those in need."
Lindquist said it’s the type of deal that makes sense for both sides.
“The defense attorney has severely reduced the risk to Mr. Kemp,” Lindquist said. “From the prosecutor's point of view, this can also be seen as a win because the risk of an acquittal has also been eliminated and at least now there's some accountability."
Kemp played 14 seasons of professional basketball and spent more than half of his career with the Seattle SuperSonics, leading the team to an NBA finals appearance in the 1995-96 season. Kemp is a six-time NBA all-star and played for the SuperSonics, Cleveland, Portland, and Orlando.
More recently, in 2020, Kemp opened a cannabis shop located in Seattle's Belltown neighborhood, and then a second location in 2023 in Seattle's SODO neighborhood.
While his guilty plea puts his cannabis retail license at risk, state regulators may also allow him to continue running his business despite the conviction.
The licensing division at the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board would consider several factors, including the nature and specific circumstances of the offense, as well as the relationship of the offense to the nature of the work performed.
SEATTLE — The Deputy Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) announced via a social media post on Tuesday evening the FBI will investigate allegations of targeted violence against religious groups regarding last weekend's chaotic Cal Anderson Park rally.
Dan Bogino posted the announcement on X at 5:15 p.m., writing, "We have asked our team to fully investigate allegations of targeted violence against religious groups at the Seattle concert. Freedom of religion isn’t a suggestion."
The aforementioned event, which took place on Saturday, May 24, initially resulted in the arrest of 23 individuals and has sparked a heated debate over the city's handling of the situation.
MayDay USA, which describes itself as a Christian Pro-Life organization, held the rally at Cal Anderson Park in Seattle's Capitol Hill neighborhood. It was met by LGBTQ+ protesters in a competing rally. At some point, police were called in, and there were multiple scuffles between the group and officers.
Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell, in a statement, questioned why the “far-right rally” was held there, suggesting it was meant “to provoke a reaction by promoting beliefs that are inherently opposed to our city’s values in the heart of Seattle’s most prominent LGBTQ+ neighborhood.”
He also blamed “anarchists” who “infiltrated the counter-protestors group and inspired violence.”
Harrell's office also released a timeline of events for Saturday and how it believes the rally was permitted:
- The group originally requested a permit through the Special Events Office with the Office of Economic Development for a street location near Pike Place (1st and 2nd Avenue between Pike Street), which was not a fit given size and logistical needs. The group did not apply for a permit at Victor Steinbrueck Park.
- Organizers directly explained their provocative thinking around a location for the event, stressing they would be at “antifa’s headquarters” and “where thousands showed up for BLM.”
- The permit for a street closure was denied by the Special Events Office, and a staffer shared a list of several available parks.
The judge found probable cause for the arrest of the eight people, and only one, accused of assault and robbery, was forced to post a $20,000 bond. The others were released.
The King County Prosecutor’s Office says there have been no felony recommendations forwarded to the office. The Seattle City Attorney could also make misdemeanor decisions. But as of this writing, no one has been charged with a crime.
The Seattle Council’s Public Safety Committee met for the first time after the conflicts during a regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, May 27.
After the meeting, Seattle City Councilmember Bob Kettle told KOMO News, “I believe in the group's ability to protest and to come and protest. To be blunt, it was a mistake to grant it at Cal Anderson Park. It was a mistake. There are many parks. There are many locations that could have accommodated the group. Cal Anderson should not have been on that list.”
Kettle added that the group, in his mind, intentionally targeted Cal Anderson because it is in the heart of the LGBTQ+ community.
“That was intentional," said Kettle. "I think you can have your First Amendment rights, but then we can do it in a respectful way.”
Kettle also questioned who sparked the confrontations, saying it wasn’t clear yet.
“We have to protect our LGBTQ+ community here," Kettle continued. "We also have to protect the rights for those two [groups] for free speech, but we also have to get down to the bottom of how things transpired. Were there third actors? What were their roles?”
SEATTLE — A religious group protested outside Seattle City Hall on Tuesday following a weekend of unrest at Cal Anderson Park. The group spoke out against what they describe as religious bigotry, specifically targeting comments made by Mayor Bruce Harrell.
The protest comes after a clash at the park on Saturday, where 23 protesters were arrested. The incident began when LGBTQ protesters attempted to disrupt a rally held by the Christian pro-life group Mayday USA. The situation escalated, prompting Seattle police to call for assistance from the Washington State Patrol. Some of the protesters who were arrested -- all accused of assaulting police officers -- have since been released.
Eight people were arrested for assault at the First Amendment event outside of City Hall, according to the Seattle Police Department (SPD). No injuries were reported, according to Seattle police.
"As the event comes to an end, there may be people wandering across the roads in the surrounding neighborhood," wrote the SPD on X at 7:42 p.m. "Please be alert as you drive in the area."
"Two opposing groups gathered along 4th Avenue," wrote the SPD in a media release. "Streets around the dueling demonstrations were shut down for several hours but reopened just before 8 p.m."
KOMO News Senior Reporter Chris Daniels contacted Mayor Bruce Harrell's office for a statement, which can be read below:
“Mayor Harrell will continue to lead our city's fight against bigotry and unfairness and stand for Seattle's values of inclusion, welcoming, and justice. We will not be intimidated by the kind of fear-mongering or divisiveness inspired by the rally and extreme rhetoric endorsed by Matt Shea and others that take aim at our residents and at Seattle's second Black and first biracial mayor.”
Lead Pastor Russell Johnson, who is behind Tuesday’s rally and was present at Saturday’s protest, says he expects hundreds of people from all walks of life to gather to demand an apology from the mayor.
Harrell referred to Mayday USA as "a right-wing organization" that "intended to provoke a reaction" by promoting its beliefs in the city's prominent LGBTQ neighborhood. Both Mayday USA and the counter-protesters have criticized the city's handling of the protest.
"We had attempted to do the event at another place, and they rejected that and directed us to Cal Anderson," said Johnson.
The nonprofit group Alliance Defending Freedom is considering legal action against Harrell and the city, citing the city's legal obligation to protect the safety and rights of all citizens. They emphasized that the Fourteenth Amendment guarantees people of faith equal protection to express their views without fear of violence or harassment.
The "Rattle in Seattle" rally was scheduled to take place at Seattle City Hall at 5 p.m. A counter rally was also planned at the same location and began an hour earlier. Seattle police released a traffic alert announcing that 4th Avenue between James Street and Cherry Street is closed for the event at City Hall.
PORT TOWNSEND — A Bremerton woman has been sentenced to nearly 12 years in prison for a series of burglaries from 2023, the Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney’s office said.
Tina Louise Woods was sentenced Friday after she was found guilty following a nine-day trial last month. She was convicted on 16 charges, including residential burglary, second-degree burglary, theft and malicious mischief, the prosecuting attorney’s office stated in a press release.
“These crimes caused real harm to our community — not just financially, but emotionally,” Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Anna Phillips stated in the release. “The defendant’s actions left many local business owners and residents feeling violated and unsafe in their own spaces. Today’s verdict brings some measure of justice for them.”
The burglaries occurred in June 2023 and October 2023, according to the press release.
More than $3,200 in electronics and personal items were stolen from a home on Osprey Ridge Drive in Port Ludlow in June 2023, and just hours later, the Chimacum Post Office was broken into, with stolen equipment and packages leading to Woods’ identification, the prosecuting attorney’s office said.
Woods used similar forced-entry methods, typically involving shattered glass doors, to burglarize Secret Gardens in Port Townsend, according to the press release.
Surveillance video and physical evidence, including the use of a stolen credit card and a link to a 1995 Jeep Wrangler registered to Woods’ husband, built a timeline of events, the prosecuting attorney’s office said.
In October 2023, burglaries occurred in Quilcene and Brinnon. On Oct. 10, six locations, including Whitney Gardens and the Brinnon Post Office, were targeted, the prosecuting attorney’s office said.
Witness descriptions, vehicle footage and surveillance videos pointed to Woods, who wore distinctive clothing and was driving a stolen gray Acura MDX, according to the press release.
The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office worked with agencies in Kitsap, Mason and Clallam counties as well as the Suquamish Tribal Gaming Commission to build the case.
The stolen Acura MDX was discovered at Woods’ home on Oct. 24, 2023, along with a backpack linked to a separate Kitsap County burglary, a stolen boat, trailer and Ford F350, the prosecuting attorney’s office said.
Woods was found hiding inside a dresser when a search warrant was executed, according to the press release. She was arrested without incident and later charged in connection with burglaries across multiple jurisdictions.
The Jefferson County conviction resulted in a sentence of 141 1/2 months. Additional sentencing is pending in Kitsap County, according to the press release.
AUBURN, Wash. — A man died from his injuries after a shooting that happened not far from a preschool and Green River College early Tuesday.
Police strung up crime scene tape and placed numerous evidence markers across the scene along SE 323rd St. Crime scene investigators arrived to collect evidence and remained there for many hours after daybreak.
According to police, multiple people called 911 after gunshots erupted around 12:15 a.m. Officers arrived to find a man with at least one gunshot wound. He was taken to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, where he later died.
Video from the KOMO 4 Drone showed at least 20 evidence markers in the street, around a vehicle, on the vehicle's hood, and in the yard of a home.
No suspects have been identified.
Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call the Auburn Police Department tip line at 253-288-7403.