A shooting near Wapato has left a juvenile male dead, while another juvenile has been arrested as investigators work to determine exactly what led to the deadly incident.
Deputies with the Yakima County Sheriff’s Office were called to the area of Home Acres Road near Wapato at about 5:45 p.m. Tuesday, September 1, after receiving reports of an injured male inside a vehicle. When deputies arrived, they found a juvenile male suffering from a gunshot wound inside a nearby car. He was unresponsive and was later pronounced dead at the scene by medical personnel.
Authorities said investigators and other law enforcement personnel worked with community members to locate another juvenile who was believed to have been with the victim at the time of the shooting. The juvenile was eventually located and detained.
According to the sheriff’s office, investigators developed probable cause to arrest the juvenile on allegations involving first-degree assault and unlawful possession of a firearm. Authorities said the charges stem from a separate allegation that the juvenile brandished a firearm and attempted to fire at an unrelated group.
The circumstances surrounding the fatal shooting remain under investigation. Detectives are continuing to examine the events that occurred before the gunfire and the circumstances that led to the victim being shot.
Authorities have asked anyone who witnessed the incident or may have captured relevant footage to contact Yakima County Sheriff’s Office detectives. Investigators said information from witnesses and video could be important in establishing a complete timeline of the shooting.
The deadly incident has drawn attention in the Wapato area as investigators continue working to establish what happened and determine whether additional charges are warranted.
