7 injured in Washington state park shooting, report police

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    In the suburb of Lakewood, Washington, situated close to Tacoma, a sudden eruption of gunfire wounded seven individuals as more than 100 people congregated in a local park on Wednesday evening. According to Police Sgt. Charles Porche from the Lakewood Police Department, the escalation of a conflict between two groups led to the violent shooting.

    The police are in the process of determining the total number of shooters and whether the victims had been specifically targeted during the altercation. No arrests were made immediately following the crime. Sgt. Porche emphasized in a public statement that, regrettably, some victims who were struck by bullets were not part of the dispute, denouncing the incident as a reckless act of violence. Authorities are committed to thoroughly examining the evidence collected to hold the responsible individuals accountable for their actions.

    Among the seven wounded, the victims varied in age, with the youngest being a 16-year-old girl, who is reportedly in stable condition, while a 38-year-old man remained in critical condition on Thursday. Two other victims are reported to be in serious condition, with the remaining victims in stable condition.

    Upon responding to the distress calls about the shooting at Harry Todd Park, which is located beside a lake and south of Tacoma, officers encountered a chaotic scene just before 8 p.m., according to Sgt. Porche’s statement to KOMO-TV. Emergency medical responders transported five victims to nearby hospitals, and two more arrived at medical facilities independently. Initial reports, as cited by The Seattle Times, indicated that Sgt. Porche had first communicated that three individuals were in critical condition.

    The incident, which unfolded amidst a large gathering of over a hundred individuals enjoying the park, remains under investigation. Sgt. Porche lamented the tragedy of the incident, noting that people had ventured out to bask in the pleasant weather, only to be caught up in an unforeseen and violent event. The shooting echoes a recent violent episode that occurred just days earlier during Memorial Day in Philadelphia, where gunfire claimed two lives and injured nine.