A 14-year-old boy remains in critical condition after being shot in the head while reportedly driving an SUV in Tacoma Friday afternoon.
The Tacoma Police Department says they do not have anyone in custody and lack a description of the suspect. The investigation continues as authorities seek public assistance in identifying those responsible.
Officers responded just before 3 p.m. to the intersection of McKinley Avenue and East 64th Street following reports of a vehicle crash and a possible gunshot victim.
First responders arrived and found the victim, a 14-year-old who was reportedly driving a Kia Sportage. Fire crews transported the boy to a hospital in critical condition.
An employee at the Food Mart located directly adjacent to the intersection described what he witnessed when he first came outside to the scene.
“I kind of got a little closer and I realized that somebody was slumped over in the drivers seat, and as I got closer I realized there was a bullet hole in the right side of his head and he was bleeding out of it,” explained Zachary McBride. He added that a woman who is a nurse sprang into action attempting to stop the bleeding.
“Its something I really didn’t want to see, it was really scary, he looked like he was very young,” McBride said.
The Food Mart owner described what his security camera captured during the incident. The surveillance footage recorded the entire situation as it unfolded at the busy intersection.
The owner stated that footage appears to show shots were fired just before the silver Kia SUV entered the intersection, which then led to a brief collision with a dark blue Scion vehicle in front of it. That driver was not injured and remained on scene before leaving later.
The surveillance video shows four people quickly exiting from both sides of the SUV and running down East 64th Street away from the store. Employees at another business across the street confirmed they also saw a group fleeing the area.
Hours later Friday night, a Tacoma Police Department spokesperson said they did not have an update on the teenager’s condition. The lack of information about his medical status left the community anxious for news about his survival.
“It’s a young individual and they got a lot of life ahead of him, even if they’re hanging out with the wrong people or whatever, I just started praying automatically, wishing him the best, hopefully they pull through,” McBride said.
The Tacoma Police Department is requesting help from the nearby community to assist in identifying suspects and understanding what occurred.
“What I ask is the public that happened to be in this area, perhaps, maybe have a GoPro on their cars, [a] cell phone camera, businesses, houses, if you have surveillance let us know, and If you happened to know what happened here, through word of mouth, please let us know,” said spokesperson Shelbie Boyd.
The incident raises troubling questions about why a 14-year-old was driving a vehicle and who else was present in the SUV. The four individuals who fled the scene may have been passengers or could provide crucial information about the shooting.
The shooting occurred in broad daylight at a busy intersection, suggesting the attackers showed little concern about witnesses or consequences. The brazen nature of the attack in a commercial area during afternoon hours heightens community safety concerns.
The victim’s age makes the incident particularly disturbing. A 14-year-old lacks a legal driver’s license in Washington, raising questions about the circumstances that put him behind the wheel and in a situation where he became a shooting target.
The nurse who provided immediate assistance potentially saved the victim’s life. Gunshot wounds to the head require immediate medical intervention, and controlling bleeding during the critical minutes before paramedics arrive can prove decisive for survival.
The Food Mart’s surveillance system capturing the incident provides investigators with crucial visual evidence. The footage may reveal the direction from which shots were fired, the number of shooters, and identifying characteristics of the four individuals who fled.
Additional surveillance cameras from nearby businesses and residences could provide broader context about vehicles or individuals in the area before and after the shooting. GoPro dash cameras from passing vehicles might have captured approaching or fleeing suspects.
The collision with the Scion suggests the victim may have lost control of the vehicle after being shot. The impact was minor enough that the other driver was not injured, but significant enough to bring both vehicles to a stop at the intersection.
Investigators will examine the Kia Sportage for bullet trajectory evidence that could indicate the direction and distance from which shots were fired. Ballistics analysis of recovered projectiles or casings could link the shooting to other crimes if the weapon has been used previously.
The four individuals who fled represent key investigative priorities. Determining their identities, their relationship to the victim, and whether any were involved in the shooting will be crucial to solving the case.
Community members with information can contact Tacoma Police Department to provide tips anonymously. Even seemingly minor details about vehicles, individuals, or activities in the area could prove valuable to investigators.
