Two teens dead, several others injured after shooting at a house party | Law Enforcement Today

SPANAWAY, WA - Authorities with the Pierce County Sheriff's Office (PCSO) said that a house party turned deadly after gunfire erupted, killing two teenagers and injuring several others.

According to Fox News, the incident took place just before 12:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 29th, when deputies were dispatched to a home after multiple callers reported a fight breaking out in the street and shots being fired just before they arrived. Witnesses said that 30 to 40 juveniles were reportedly running and screaming from the house party.

Deputies said the scene was chaotic as some partygoers fled on foot, while others fled in vehicles, which got stuck in the neighborhood. Deputies located one male victim in the street and attempted life-saving measures, but he was pronounced dead at the scene. Officials said five other victims transported themselves to nearby hospitals. 

In an update on PCSO's Facebook page, the sheriff's office said, "We were later notified a male had succumbed to his injuries at the hospital." Deputies said that the four other victims remain at hospitals with serious injuries, but all of them are expected to recover. The victim's range in age from 16 to 21. 

The street, initially closed off for an investigation, was reopened nearly eight hours later. Nearby homes and vehicles were damaged by gunfire. Deputies found several shell casings at the location. Later in the afternoon, PCSO said a 17-year-old suspect was arrested. They do not believe there are any other suspects at this time.

PCSO said in a statement, "This is another grim reminder of how dangerous parties can be when things get out of hand. Our deputies and first responders have dealt with a lot in the last 24 hours, and we would hate to respond to more unnecessary deaths. Please be safe." According to KomoNews, the mass shooting has sparked safety concerns from residents. Cindy Bickford, who lives in the area said that she wishes more could have been done to shut down the party earlier.

She said, "It's a tragedy. It should have never happened. I wish the parents were here at the house or if they were that they would have done something or even the police officers that were called to be alerted to this party so they could have gone sooner and it could have been prevented."

King5 reported that neighbors reported seeing more than 100 people coming and going from the residence where the party was being held. PCSO said neighbors reported seeing the use of drugs and alcohol by minors. A deputy with PCSO said, "Welfare checks have been conducted on all the nearby homes and no other victims have been located. Several shell casings are scattered throughout the street and two weapons have been located."

When the incident happened, Bickford said, "I heard four or five gunshots and at the end it sounded like fireworks possibly. I didn't know what it was." Bickford said it is devastating ho young the victims are. She said, "Now there's two people that their families will have to be notified that they're not coming back home."