One person was injured during a shooting just outside Garfield High School Wednesday afternoon. Seattle Public Schools confirmed that the person shot was a student.
According to the Seattle Police Department, at about 3 p.m., officers responded to the report of a shooting in the 400 block of 23rd Avenue.
Seattle Police Chief Adrian Diaz said that at about 2:40 p.m., an SUV was traveling southbound on 23rd Avenue and Jefferson when shots were fired from the car.
A 17-year-old student was hit in the “lower extremities” as she was sitting at a bus stop. She was transported to Harborview Medical Center in stable condition. KIRO 7 later found out she was shot in the leg.
School let out at 2:25 p.m. because of early release on Wednesdays, but many students were still inside and outside the school. Some said they heard the gunshots from inside the cafeteria.
“I heard like three shots. We didn’t know what it was at first, and everyone started running into the lunch room,” said a freshman student. “I’m happy I wasn’t over there because I usually take that bus,” she said.
“We seen our friends at the door so we went to go open it. Then you saw everybody running – it was just sad,” said another student who also heard the gunfire.
Other students were outside and told KIRO 7 they tried to run away from the school.
“I just started running. It’s the only thing anyone can do,” said a third student. “I was actually on a call with my friend and she told me the bullet was like right next to her. And supposedly the shooter was pointing at her trying to find the person they were trying to shoot,” he said, describing the tense moments.
Garfield High School was in shelter-in-place as officers investigated.
Seattle police said they will have officers at the school on Thursday and Friday, and will work with the school district to figure out what additional security plans may be needed for next week.
A fourth student KIRO 7 spoke with said incidents involving lockdowns, shelter-in-place cases, or drills were so commonplace that he felt desensitized.
“Unfortunately, it’s not something very new, so we kind of know the drill. As soon as you know who it is, if it’s not someone you know, you don’t get worried as much anymore. You’re like, ‘Oh, it’s just another day,’” he said.
If you have information about the shooting, including video footage during the time of the shooting, contact the Seattle Police Department at 206-233-5000.
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