A 16-year-old student from Graham-Kapowsin High School was shot early this morning near a Puyallup bus stop. The Pierce County Sheriff's Department responded to the incident that occurred near the intersection of 186th Street and 82nd Avenue, where the student was seemingly on his way to school when he was struck by gunfire. The injury, fortunately, was not life-threatening, reported KOMO News.
Despite the nature of the violence, the student was quickly rushed to receive medical attention, with deputies stating that he endured a gunshot wound to the leg. The response team, as KIRO 7 reported, sought immediately to secure his safety and to ensure that he was transported to the nearest hospital for urgent treatment.
While details on the motive behind the shooting are still scant, the Pierce County Sheriff's Department is in full swing gathering evidence and leads to locate the shooter. Witnesses told deputies that the suspect fled the area in a vehicle soon after the shooting. As the investigation unfolds, the sheriff's department is calling on the public, as noted by FOX 13 Seattle, to step forth with any pertinent information that could assist in the search for the individual responsible for this criminal act.
To support the affected student and the broader school community, the Bethel School District assured that counselors and social workers were made available to help manage the emotional aftermath. "Our thoughts are with the student and their family. Counselors and social workers will be available at GKHS today for students who need support," the district indicated in a statement obtained by KOMO News. They encourage anyone with knowledge of the crime to contact the Sheriff's Department or to securely submit a tip through Crime Stoppers.
