17-year-old boy shot, seriously injured near Southcenter Mall in Tukwila; 7 suspects arrested



TUKWILA, Wash. -- A 17-year-old boy was shot and seriously injured Tuesday during a fight involving up to 15 youths near the Southcenter Mall, Tukwila police said.

Officers were dispatched to an initial 911 call of six to seven juveniles "causing problems" in the parking lots of the 100 block of Andover Park West, police said. On the way there, further information indicated there were  up to 15 youths fighting, police said.

As officers arrived, they heard multiple gunshots on the east side of Andover Park West and saw a silver sedan full of youths fleeing from the scene at a high rate of speed. Police pursued the car, and other officers found a victim in an adjacent parking lot from where the shots were fired.

The victim was a 17-year-old boy who had been shot once in the back. He was transported to Harborview Medical Center in serious condition, police said.

It wasn't immediately clear if he was involved in the fight or an innocent bystander.

The chase of the suspects' car ended at the King County Transfer station at 18800 Orillia Road South, where the youths jumped out and tried to flee on foot.

Five people -- four young adult males and a juvenile teenage female -- were immediately located, while two others were later located hiding in nearby bushes. All were being booked for assault charges, police said.