KIRKLAND, Wash. — Police are searching for a shooter who injured several people at a Kirkland beach overnight.
Kirkland Police said that at 12:05 a.m. Monday, they received several reports of shots fired at Houghton Beach Park on Lake Washington Boulevard.
Officers arrived to find three victims with gunshot wounds — two teenagers and one young adult.
Medics treated them at the park before taking them to local hospitals.
According to witnesses, a group of people was inside the park after hours when an argument or fight happened and one person opened fire. Shell casings were found at the park.
“A series of back-to-back kind of loud pops. Sounded like 15, or seemed like 10 plus,” said Kameron Hutchins and Maddie Bates.
The couple lives right next to Houghton Beach Park in Kirkland where the shooting happened. They said it was around midnight when they heard the gunfire.
“Then I heard the sirens, and after that, I knew it wasn’t good,” said Hutchins.
Kirkland police said when officers arrived, they found two teens and a young adult with gunshot wounds. All three were transported to the hospital.
“Multiple rounds fired in the park and close down the park,” said Lt. Tim Carpenter, Kirkland Police.
Investigators found several shell casings near the scene, some of the bullets shattered windows in the building across the street.
Police said there was an altercation before the shooting, and say the suspect took off in a car.
“We don’t respond to violence at this park very often,” said Lt. Carpenter.
Monday morning, neighbors were stunned to learn about the shooting.
“It’s just really like a neighborhood-friendly community. I mean we live with mostly people that are older and everyone’s kind of family style,” said Bates.
Police said the suspect is no longer believed to be in Kirkland.
The park is closed during the investigation.