Student shot and killed after trying to break up fight outside Garfield High School

SEATTLE — A 17-year-old student was fatally shot outside Garfield High School Thursday afternoon while trying to break up a fight.

The shooting happened in the parking lot of the teen center, near 23rd Avenue and Jefferson Street, at 12:30 p.m., during the school's lunch hour.

According to Deputy Chief Eric Barden, there was an altercation on campus when the victim, a 17-year-old male, attempted to intervene and break up the fight. Barden added that the suspect, who is also a school-age male, pulled out a gun and shot the victim. The shooting suspect then fled the scene. No suspects are currently in custody. Barden said the suspect was wearing a red hoodie, light-colored pants and light shoes.

Barden said responding officers gave the students aid, including a “chest seal,” until Seattle Fire crews arrived and took over. The 17-year-old was then taken to Harborview Medical Center, where he died.

“This is an extraordinary tragedy for the community,” Barden told reporters at a news conference. The students were held inside the school for approximately three hours while police secured the campus and searched for the suspect.

“It’s completely out of control,” parent Nadeem Uddin told KOMO News.

Uddin said this is now the third time he has had to come to school in the past year to pick up his daughter because of a shooting.

“This may be the last year my daughter goes to school here. I have to take him or raise him somewhere outside the city because it is no longer safe for our children,” Uddin said.

Another parent, who asked only to be identified by her first name, Michelle, expressed outrage over gun violence on campus. She told KOMO News that her son was in second grade at Garfield and she was a teacher at a nearby elementary school.

“And here we are again. When will you keep our children safe, Seattle Public Schools? » said Michelle. “My job as a parent and teacher is to keep children safe, and if our district is unwilling to do that, then we must act. Let's close the school for the rest of the year.

There have been several shootings in the same area of ​​campus last year, including that of a 17-year-old girl who was shot to death at the bus stop in March.

In October 2023, police responded to a shooting that damaged school property. In May 2023, a 19-year-old man was shot and killed in the same teen living center parking lot.

“It happens so many times, and we’re all so used to it. You don’t have any emotion about it anymore,” Garfield senior Lezlye Lopez told KOMO News. “I hope to see more police here before, during and after school.”

Seattle Public Schools said in a statement that while Garfield was in lockdown, neighboring Nova School and Washington Middle School were asked to shelter in place. The students were released around 3:45 p.m.

The identity of the deceased student has not been released. Police said they are still actively searching for the shooter and asked anyone with information to call the tip line at 206-233-5000.

An SPS spokesperson confirmed to KOMO News Thursday evening that classes at Garfield High School have been canceled for Friday and Monday of next week.

The Seattle Police Department is leading the investigation and information can also be submitted to CrimeStoppers of Puget Sound at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or crimestoppers.com.