A quiet stretch of Yakima turned into a crime scene before dawn Sunday when a 16-year-old boy was killed and two other teenagers were critically injured in a shooting, police said. Officers responding to reports of gunfire in the 400 block of North 5th Avenue found three teens with gunshot wounds, and one was pronounced dead at the scene. The two surviving victims were rushed to MultiCare Yakima, then transferred to a Seattle-area hospital for more advanced care.
Police response and the ongoing investigation
Officers were dispatched to the 400 block of N. 5th Avenue at about 3:15 a.m., where they came upon the three wounded teenagers, according to NonStop Local. Detectives with the department’s Criminal Investigations Division have launched a homicide investigation and are working to piece together what led up to the gunfire. Police have not released the names of the victims as they notify family members and continue gathering evidence.
Victims, hospitals and what is known
The two survivors were identified by police as a 16-year-old male and a 17-year-old female, both in critical condition, per reporting by KIRO 7. The outlet reports that the injured teens were first taken to MultiCare in Yakima, then flown to a Seattle-area hospital for higher-level treatment. As of now, investigators have not released any suspect information or a possible motive.
Police ask the public for help
MyNorthwest, which first reported the incident, notes that the Yakima Police Department is urging anyone with information to contact the Major Crimes Unit. Witnesses are asked to call Sergeant Johnson at (509) 576-6784 or submit an anonymous tip to Yakima County Crime Stoppers. Investigators are also asking residents to review doorbell camera and cellphone video for anything that might help establish a clearer timeline.
Local context
The shooting has added to a sense of unease in Yakima, where community members have been rattled by repeated gun violence in recent months. In one earlier case, a 16-year-old was found near North 20th and Englewood avenues after a December shooting that turned fatal, as reported by FOX41 Yakima. Local leaders have repeatedly appealed for public tips and video in the wake of other deadly incidents.
Anyone with information about Sunday’s shooting is asked to contact the Yakima Police Department’s Major Crimes Unit through the department’s website at Yakima Police Department or call Yakima County Crime Stoppers to leave an anonymous tip. The investigation remains active, and detectives are specifically hoping to hear from anyone who was in the 400 block of N. 5th Avenue early Sunday morning. Officials say additional details will be released when appropriate as new leads develop.
