Update 3:37 PM: Pierce County Sheriff’s Department detective Ed Troyer reported on KIRO that deputies are “100 percent confident that the shooters are out of the area and fled by vehicle.”
Multiple officers responded from multiple agencies, Troyer said, and no one other than the two students were hurt.
Troyer also clarified that it appears the shooting happened across the street from the school, about 30 to 40 yards away and over a fence. One of the shooting victims ran into the school after he was shot, Troyer said, and made it into the locker room bathroom. Another went to a field.
It’s unclear what the students’ conditions are, but they’ve been taken to Tacoma General Hospital. Troyer said the two victims are boys. Three schools remain in lockdown.
Troyer said that officers are investigating a motive for the shooting, and that it may have been gang-related.
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The Pierce County Sheriff’s Department is reporting that officers are responding to gunshots outside Graham-Kapowsin High School.
#PCSD responding to shooting outside Graham-Kapowsin High School. 2 students reportedly shot, one found in parking lot by football field, one found in locker room. Suspects described as multiple black males, fled in green vehicle, possibly Chevy Impala.
— Pierce Co Sheriff (@PierceSheriff) December 5, 2017
Doug Boyles, a spokesperson from the Bethel School District, confirmed that two victims are Graham-Kapowsin High School students, but didn’t have more information. “I’ve heard conflicting reports and we’re trying to shore reports up with the police departments right now,” he said.
Four schools in the district went under lockdown, but Graham Elementary students were recently released to their buses, per the district.
Four of our schools are in lockdown this afternoon due to gunshots reported in the area. The schools affected are Graham-Kapowsin High School, Frontier Middle School, Nelson Elementary and Graham Elementary. We will update you with more information as we learn more.
— Bethel Schools (@BethelSD) December 5, 2017
Both victims have been transported to hospitals in the area. We’ll update when we have more. A Pierce County detective will be going on KIRO 97.3 shortly:
Troyer will be live on KIRO 97.3 radio at 3:30 p.m. with update from the scene including victim status, student/parent reunification site, shooting details.
— Pierce Co Sheriff (@PierceSheriff) December 5, 2017
