Two teenage girls were injured in a shooting at the Grant County Fairgrounds in Moses Lake on Friday evening, with authorities detaining a teen suspect in connection with the incident. As reported by KREM, the shooting occurred around 9 p.m., resulting in injuries to a 16-year-old girl and a 14-year-old girl. The alleged shooter, a 15-year-old boy from Wenatchee, was taken into custody and is now being held at the Chelan County Juvenile Justice Center.
The Grant County Sheriff's Office states the incident stemmed from an altercation described as gang-related activity. Unintentionally firing a handgun during an altercation with a member of an opposing gang, the suspect shot his 14-year-old girlfriend and the 16-year-old girl standing nearby. According to KEPR TV, the round passed through the girlfriend's back and hit the other girl in the leg. At the south end of the fairgrounds near the carnival rides, deputies were already moving in on the scene as the shot rang out.
Bystanders played a crucial role by pointing out the suspect who attempted to flee after the shooting. In a dynamic intervention, one bystander pushed the suspect into the carnival ride's safety railing, allowing others to tackle him to the ground. Members of the crowd intervened, ensuring the deputies could detain the suspect quickly, with a handgun being recovered from his possession. Both victims were transported by ambulance to Samaritan Healthcare in Moses Lake, where they are receiving treatment and reported to be in stable condition, as per KING 5.
With the community shaken by the violence at an event meant for family enjoyment, the Grant County Sheriff's Office is continuing their investigation. The injuries sustained by the two girls, while serious, are described as non-life-threatening. The fair continued over the weekend, enveloped by an increased law enforcement presence, as attendees sought to reclaim the space for community and celebration amidst the aftermath of Friday's tragic events.
