KENT, Wash. (KOMO) — Police in Kent, Washington are investigating an overnight shooting near a busy transit center that sent a man to the hospital.
A 32-year-old man, identified by officers as transient, called 911 after he said he was shot in the lower back and assaulted by at least four juveniles when leaving Kent Station just before 1 a.m. on Wednesday. The suspects stole his bag holding personal items and fled in a mid-sized SUV, police reported. Police were called to respond at an apartment complex about a half mile north of the transit station.
"That’s actually crazy. I don’t know why they would do that," commuter Ivan Delunacruz told KOMO News.
"It is a complete shock because I see so many kids around this area," added neighbor Rachel Moya.
The incident has people raising concerns about what they consider to be a rough area, including where hundreds of people catch a bus.
"Stuff that has to do with guns, people coming here shooting other people. [There are a lot] of fights that happen here," Delunacruz explained.
Officers made life-saving measures on the victim before fire crews took him to the hospital.
Regular commuters and a longtime King County Metro bus driver fed up with violence say they'd like a bigger safety presence as a crime deterrent.
"Whatever they can do: police presence showing up, like they are now; moving people out that are not catching the bus or just hanging out," driver Gerald Allen said. "Security here doesn’t really do anything, that I see, and I’m here twice a week."
In response, a Sound Transit spokesperson said they don't have info about the shooting which happened away from the station, but noted that the area is staffed with security 24/7.
KOMO News is working to find out whether police have suspect leads, and whether they found any evidence at the scene.
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