Kent Police are still trying to figure out what led to a shooting and who fired the shots that injured six people July 13 along Pacific Highway South on the West Hill.
“At this time we do not have any new information,” Cmdr. Robert Hollis said in a July 20 email. “It appears that the dispute may have been started because of two groups ‘mean mugging’ each other. Our investigators are not ruling out the possibility that this incident is gang related, however, any gang involvement has not been confirmed.”
“Mean mugging” is an act of glowering at someone with an intimidating, irritated or judgmental facial expression.
Five males, ranging in age from 16 to 49, were treated for gunshot wounds at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. A sixth shooting victim had a minor wound and didn’t go to a hospital.
The shooting occurred at about 5:55 p.m. on July 13 near a Metro bus stop in the 23200 block of Pacific Highway South. A witness flagged down a Des Moines Police officer who found six shooting victims along the sidewalk. A bus in the area wasn’t part of the shooting incident, Hollis said. Kent Police responded to the crime scene because it was in the city limits of Kent.
It’s been a challenge for detectives to try to solve the crime.
“We don’t have any information on who the suspect was, but one of the victims did know one of the suspects,” Hollis said. “Because of the number of people and witnesses involved, our investigators are having to dig through a large amount of information and statements to determine the suspect and the reason why this incident occurred.”
Kent Police are asking anyone that may have witnessed this incident or may have any information to call the tip line at 253-856-5808.
Talk to us
Please share your story tips by emailing editor@kentreporter.com.
To share your opinion for publication, submit a letter through our website https://www.kentreporter.com/submit-letter/. Include your name, address and daytime phone number. (We’ll only publish your name and hometown.) Please keep letters to 300 words or less.
