A 17-year-old boy was shot in the back early Tuesday near the Atlantic City Boat Ramp in Seattle’s Rainier Beach neighborhood, turning a late-night drive into a crime scene. Officers headed to the 9000 block of Seward Park Avenue South around 3:30 a.m., and King County medics later took the wounded teen to Harborview Medical Center. Detectives with the Seattle Police Department’s Gun Violence Reduction Unit are now leading the investigation.
Police Say Shooting Evidence Littered Seward Park Avenue South
According to the Seattle Police Department’s SPD Blotter, officers were dispatched just after 3:30 a.m. and found evidence of gunfire in the street in front of the Atlantic City Boat Ramp. While they were at the scene, dispatch reported that King County Sheriff’s deputies were with a 17-year-old boy in the 8500 block of 117th Street in Skyway. The teen told deputies he had been shot near Seward Park. SPD says detectives with the Gun Violence Reduction Unit are handling the case.
Investigators: Teen Was Riding In Car When Gunfire Broke Out
As reported by KOMO News, investigators say the victim had been riding in a vehicle with two other boys, ages 13 and 17, along with an unidentified driver when shots were heard while the car was on Seward Park Avenue South. KOMO reports the driver then took the teens to Skyway, dropped them off, and left the area. Police had not announced any arrests as of Tuesday morning.
Boat Ramp And Seward Park Stretch Have Seen Trouble Before
The Atlantic City Boat Ramp, which Seattle Parks lists at 9026 Seward Park Ave S, is a lakeside launch that draws boaters and late-night visitors. The ramp and the nearby Seward Park Avenue corridor have been linked to previous shootings and other violent incidents in recent years, according to local coverage and police posts, and residents have pushed for more patrols and safety measures. City and community leaders say late-night gatherings along the lakefront have remained a recurring concern for neighbors.
How To Help Detectives Build The Case
The Seattle Police Department is asking anyone with information to call the Violent Crimes Tip Line at (206) 233-5000, according to its blotter post. Investigators are particularly interested in any video or other evidence from the Seward Park Avenue South area early Tuesday, saying tips and footage could be key to identifying suspects and vehicles involved in the shooting.
