Graham-Kapowsin High School Shooting Maybe Gang-Related, 2 Students Injured, Police Say

Police responded to reports Tuesday regarding multiple shots being fired in a school in Pierce County, Washington, and speculated it might be a gang-related activity. According to the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department, two students were shot in an incident that took place Tuesday afternoon outside Graham-Kapowsin High School, Bethel School District.

While one student was found in the parking lot near the football field, the other was found in a locker room.

The shooting took place at around 2:30 p.m. local time (5:30 p.m. EST), according to a report in an ABC-affiliated television station, KOMO-TV. Authorities believe the shooting took place off campus and students ran back to the high school after being shot at. The conditions of the two students are still unknown. However, Ed Troyer, Pierce County Sheriff’s Department spokesman told Seattle Times both the boys were expected to survive. They are being treated at the Tacoma General Hospital, Tacoma, Washington.

Troyer also added the police suspected the shooting to be gang-related, which forced not only the high school but nearby Frontier Middle School, Graham Elementary and Nelson Elementary School also to go on lockdown. He confirmed once the authorities got a call regarding the shooting, police swept the area to look for possible suspects. However, there were no signs of the shooters being on campus.

“We are confident there are no shooters at the school or on the school grounds,” Troyer had said

Troyer told Seattle Times the students who were present at school remained with the deputies until the danger cleared. The Bethel School District confirmed via a tweet the victims shot were indeed students from the school. Their ages and identities remain unidentified.

The high school is located at 108th Avenue East and Eustis Hunt Road East in Graham, in Pierce County, and the gunshots were reportedly fired on the Eustis Hunt Road side of the campus.

John Gutierrez, 41, who was driving to pick up his son from the school, said he noticed the sheriff’s deputies on his way to the school and added he was asked to leave the parking lot when he arrived. Gutierrez also revealed how he got a text from his son saying he can’t leave the school as they are going on lockdown.

“It is scary, but I know my son is OK. I’m just praying for the parents of the other kids,” he told The News Tribune, Seattle Times reported.

Once the danger was cleared the students were released around 4:30 p.m. local time (7:30 p.m. EST).

“As you can imagine, there’s a lot of parents, and they’re all upset,” Troyer said.

The school district also tweeted that their thoughts and prayers are with everyone who were involved in the shooting and added they were proud of how their students and staff reacted to the incident.

Dave Reichert, United States Rep. R-Auburn, also tweeted, “My prayers are w/ the families of the victims; the students, teachers, & staff at the school; & the community affected.”