Garfield High School student killed in shooting, classes canceled – KIRO 7 News Seattle

Police believe the shooter is of high school age. He fled the scene after the shooting and has not been found.

KIRO 7 has learned there was a fight before the shooting and the victim tried to break it up.

“This young man was killed for nothing, it wasn't even because of his problem, and he was just trying to help his friend,” said parent Christle Young.

Young was dropping off gift cards to his son at lunchtime when the shots were fired.

“That's when I heard five or six gunshots, children started to scatter, I immediately called 911,” she said.

Young told KIRO 7 she tried to perform CPR on the 17-year-old victim until first responders arrived.

“I saw the young man lying on the ground,” Young said.

Hundreds of students were immediately confined.

After three long hours, the parents found their children. Many of them hug their loved ones and shed tears.

Young's son, a freshman at Garfield High, traumatized by what happened.

“Seeing kids that look like him outside the school at lunchtime,” Young said.

This made Young think twice about keeping his son in that school.

“He loves his teachers, he feels supported. But I only have one child and it’s not worth the risk of sending him to a school where there are constant shootings.”

Parents received a similar call just 3 months ago, after a student was shot in the leg at the bus stop.

“Exhaustion, fear, but my first notification was from my children and so I knew right away that they were safe, but I also knew that someone's child was not safe and that was just a horrible realization,” said mother Alicia Spanswick.

Alicia Spanswick is tired of violence at her children's school and joined other parents in calling for more police on campus Thursday night.

“School resource officers or at least the same type of presence that we had after the March incident because it was pretty clear that the violence subsided when there was a consistent police presence,” Spanswick said .

A safety measure Young agreed with.

“I feel for all the shootings that have already happened this year. The school board should have a few SPD officers at least here for a detail or something that will help deter crime,” Young said.

Spanswick, who is also part of the school's PTSA, is asking the school board to make the change so students can feel safe at school.

“There is a child who can no longer fight and if I do not fight here for my children and for those of my neighbors, who can?

Classes at Garfield High School were canceled Friday and Monday.

In a statement, Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell said: “This is an incredibly difficult day, especially since we've been here before. Gun violence is a national epidemic, but its impacts are felt in our cities, in our neighborhoods, and in tragedies like today in our schools.

The Seattle Police Department is asking anyone with information to call the SPD Violent Crime Tip Line at (206) 233-5000, or Crime Stoppers: 1-800-222-TIPS.