Two men are in custody following a pre-dawn shooting outside a Kent bar Thursday that left one person hospitalized and prompted a police response to what authorities describe as an escalating confrontation.
Kent police responded to reports of gunfire at the Inn Between Pub at 25412 104th Avenue SE just after 2 a.m. Witnesses reported a suspect fleeing in a black SUV, which officers intercepted in the bar’s parking lot minutes later.
Police detained a 63-year-old Federal Way man who initially refused commands and reached into his vehicle before placing a handgun on top of the car. He was arrested without further incident after a brief standoff.
Separately, an 18-year-old Seattle man arrived at Valley Medical Center in Renton with a leg wound. He initially claimed he was shot in Tacoma, but investigators determined he was the victim in the Kent incident.
According to police, the shooting stemmed from a parking lot dispute where the younger man and several others surrounded the older suspect. During the confrontation, the older man was shoved and someone attempted to steal his necklace.
The 63-year-old then drew his firearm and shot the teen in the leg, causing the group to scatter. The younger man allegedly returned and fired back, though the older suspect was not hit.
The teen faces charges of assault and unlawful possession of a firearm. The older man remains in custody pending prosecutor review. No other injuries were reported.
Kent police detectives are reviewing surveillance footage and gathering evidence to determine if additional charges or arrests are warranted.
