A teen girl was shot and injured near a school bus stop in Wood Village, Oregon, leading to the arrest of a 14-year old suspect who fled the scene.
According to the police report, Multnomah County Sheriff’s deputies responded around 4:14 p.m. May 15 to reports of a shooting near Northeast 235th Avenue after a school bus driver called 911. When first responders arrived, they found a teenage girl suffering from a gunshot wound.
Deputies immediately began providing life-saving aid until paramedics arrived and transported the girl to a local hospital. Authorities said she was alert and responsive while receiving treatment at the scene.
In an update released a day later, investigators confirmed the teen girl shot is 13 years old and has non-life threatening injuries. Detectives said the circumstances leading up to the shooting and the shooting itself remain under investigation, though preliminary findings indicate the incident may have started with an argument.
Witnesses told investigators the suspect ran from the area immediately after the shooting. Authorities did not believe there was an ongoing threat to the public, and no shelter-in-place order was issued.
Investigators coordinated with the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office while interviewing witnesses, collecting video footage and processing evidence connected to the case.
The shooting rattled nearby residents, many of whom said they were alarmed to learn the victim was a young teenager. “I was really bummed to find out it was a teenager when I was talking to police,” nearby resident Corbin Mandzij told local news reporters.
Another neighbor expressed concern about violence occurring in a neighborhood with many children. “A stray bullet can go anywhere,” the neighbor told the station. “There’s lots of kids around here, my biggest worry is about the kids.”
Some residents said the shooting happened only steps from their homes. “It was 15 feet from my property line, right outside my front door,” one neighbor said. Others said the incident has left them feeling uneasy.
Teen Girl Shot by 14-Year-Old Boy, Police Allege
Authorities announced Tuesday that a 14-year-old boy accused of shooting the girl turned himself in to the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office. According to investigators, the surrender was coordinated through the suspect’s attorney after detectives requested he come forward.
The suspect surrendered at the Multnomah County Donald E. Long Juvenile Detention Center and was booked on charges of attempted murder, first-degree assault and unlawful use of a weapon. Because the suspect is a juvenile, authorities said they will not release additional identifying information.
Investigators said the shooting began after two teenage girls got into a physical fight after exiting a school bus. Detectives said both girls knew the 14-year-old suspect. During the altercation, the boy allegedly pulled out a firearm and shot the 13-year-old girl before fleeing the scene. Authorities also confirmed the suspect is not enrolled in the Reynolds School District. However, it was unclear if the suspect was on board the school bus with the girls. The victim remains hospitalized with injuries considered non-life threatening.
The Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office credited deputies, detectives, analysts and members of the U.S. Marshals Pacific Northwest Violent Offender Task Force for their work on the investigation. Authorities also thanked community members who provided cellphone video, tips and other information related to the case.
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