Teen killed in shooting near Garfield High School in Seattle

The Seattle Police Department (SPD) reports that a teenager shot during a shooting near Garfield High School Thursday afternoon has died.

According to an updated article on SPD's SPD Blotter, Harborview Medical Center confirmed that despite lifesaving efforts, the teen “succumbed to his injuries” and died. The department also added the news to its X account.

Update: 17-year-old student dead after shooting at Garfield High School:

– Seattle Police Department (@SeattlePD) June 7, 2024

According to the SPD Blotter post, at 12:30 p.m., officers responded to reports of a shooting in the 400 block of 23rd Avenue and subsequently located a 17-year-old boy suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.

SPD officers then provided medical aid until the Seattle Fire Department (SFD) arrived and continued treatment. The teen was transported to Harborview Medical Center in serious condition. Earlier Thursday, Harborview spokeswoman Susan Gregg confirmed to KIRO Newsradio that they were treating a teenager in connection with the shooting.

The Department reported on Garfield High School was closed Thursday following the shooting. The lockdown was lifted at 3:15 p.m.

The lockdown will be lifted at 3:15 p.m. A phased unification process for parents and students will take place in the southeast corner of Garfield High School, near the fields.

– Seattle Police Department (@SeattlePD) June 6, 2024

Officers determined that an altercation had occurred on school grounds prior to the shooting, the SPD Blotter post states. The suspect, believed to be “school aged,” fled the scene and has not yet been located. Police cordoned off the area until Seattle police homicide detectives arrived.

At a news conference Thursday afternoon, SPD Deputy Chief Eric Barden said it all started when a student broke up a fight.

“One of the first fighters approached the victim, apparently angry that they had intervened,” Barden said. “A few words were exchanged, there was an altercation, and then the suspect pulled out a gun and shot our victim several times, striking him.”

SPD has not released a specific description of the suspect, but KIRO 7 Brigitte Chavez reported that SPD is looking for a person “described as wearing red jeans, a red shirt, a black belt and dreads.”

Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell, a Garfield High alumnus, also spoke at the news conference and said he was ordering SPD to survey the area for increased attention and patrols after the shooting . However, this is not overpolicing.

“It’s to protect. It’s about developing a connection with the community so the community feels like we have an investment strategy to protect it,” Harrell said.

Huge police presence at Garfield HS after reports of a shooting. We collect information and will bring you the latest news @KIRO7Seattle pic.twitter.com/4zsxpWiqzS

-Bridget Chavez (@BridgetChavezTV) June 6, 2024

This is a developing story. Please check again for updates.

Contributor: Charlie Harger, KIRO Newsradio

Steve Coogan is the editor-in-chief of MyNorthwest. You can read more of her stories here. Follow Steve on Xor send him an email here.