14-year-old boy shot and killed in Tacoma
TACOMA, Wash. - A 14-year-old boy was killed in a shooting in Tacoma Thursday afternoon.
Tacoma Police responded to reports of a shooting in the 4000 block of Portland Ave. E around 3:00 p.m.
When officers arrived, they found a boy who had been shot. They worked on saving his life until paramedics could take him to the hospital where he later died.
Authorities say the boy was an innocent bystander standing near a bus stop when he was shot.
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His death is being investigated as a homicide, but police have not released any suspect information.
In a statement, Tacoma Mayor Victoria Woodards said:
"This is a tragic day for Tacoma. Our hearts go out to the family and loved ones of the young male victim who was struck by gunfire this afternoon along Portland Avenue in East Tacoma. We offer our deepest condolences to his family and loved ones, as well as others grieving across our entire community. Although any loss of life is unacceptable, it is even more painful when we see a young life cut short. As we have stated in the past, we remain committed to working with our local, regional and national partners to reverse the alarming upward trend of violence that we have seen in recent years. While that may not be comforting in this moment, we must continue our efforts to address the root causes of these issues. The Tacoma Police Department has already begun working to identify, locate and apprehend the shooter, and they will share updates on this evolving situation as they become available."
Tacoma Police Chief Avery Moore also released a statement:
"Yesterday, a tragedy struck the City of Tacoma. The death of a child at any age is devastating; losing a child to murder shakes the very foundation of our entire community. As the family and community grieve, we grieve with you and for the family. During this difficult time, we must come together to find a path forward.The Tacoma Police Department will continue to fight against violent crime. Everyone deserves a safe place to call home, and no child should fear their community, nor should any parent have to bury a child. Be assured that the Tacoma Police Department will not waiver in the pursuit of the apprehension of those responsible for this heinous act.As a community, please support this family and each other. The Tacoma Police Department will never rest as it is our mission to create a safe and secure environment for each and every member of our community."