Police in Washington announced Thursday that two 17-year-old boys have been arrested in connection with a 14-year-old girl’s death.
Tacoma officials said the first teen suspect, who was not identified, is expected to be booked on suspicion of first-degree murder. According to investigators, the suspect was taken into custody without incident shortly before 4 p.m. Thursday.
Police said a second 17-year-old suspect voluntarily turned himself in with his attorney at Remann Hall around 6:45 p.m. He was booked on suspicion of first-degree murder.
It was not immediately clear if the suspects knew the girl, identified as Iyana Ussery, or what led to the gunfire.
Police also did not immediately say what evidence they gathered that led them to link the teen suspect to the fatal shooting.
Police Chief Avery Moore initially said there could be a third suspect, and investigators later said they are still determining if anyone else was involved.
The Tacoma Police Department said the attack happened at S. 19th Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Way in the city’s Hilltop neighborhood around 11:30 a.m. Wednesday as several young people were in a car in that area.
Someone shot at the vehicle’s occupants and the teen girl was struck, She was immediately driven to a location in the 1900 block of S. Ainsworth Avenue, where medical help was called.
Police said the girl was pronounced dead at that location.
Tacoma Mayor Victoria Woodards said the was angered by the girl’s death.
“Over the last couple of weeks, we have seen a spike in shootings and fatalities and, this morning, a 14-year-old girl was tragically shot and killed,” she said in a written statement. “In the face of these ongoing tragedies, I am beyond devastated. I am furious.”
Tell us your thoughts...