The shooting occurred Sunday night at Auburn Park, near the ball field where Puyallup and Arlington youth teams were playing.
AUBURN, Wash. โ What began as a Sunday game on America's pastime turned into a tragedy for Auburn players and parents when a shooting occurred in a park near the ballpark where Puyallup and Arlington's youth teams were playing. It became terrifying.
On the night of May 19th, someone on the team livestreamed the game using the GameChanger app. Just before 8:15 p.m., the final inning of the game, gunshots rang out.
“It was kind of a moment of confusion. Everyone was looking around wondering what that was, and then we realized it was a gunshot and people were running off the field and hitting the grass.” explained Derek Jennings. And shared the video with KING 5.
Justin Gonzalez, the team's coach, said he was at bat when suddenly players had to run for support.
“We noticed five or six kids laying on top of a 9-year-old boy with a bat, trying to stop him from getting hit by something,” Gonzalez said.
Gonzalez added that it sounded like a gunfight was in progress.
“This is very concerning. We want parks to be safe places for people. People can go to their son or daughter's baseball or softball game and have a good time without any worries. I hope you have a great time,” Colby Crossley said. Along with the Auburn Police Department.
Crossley said the sounds at the ballpark came from across the river from Isaac Evans Park, where the two groups were fighting. At least one person started shooting. According to police, two women were injured.
“Why are our children in this situation? Why are they in this situation?” Jennings asked.
The team leases field space from the city of Auburn. Jennings said the shooting is the latest on a list of safety concerns. He said he had seen evidence of “drug use in the toilets and needles all over the scene” and wants more to be done to tackle this type of illegal activity.
After what happened last night, the team's future on this field is uncertain.
“I think those kids and their parents are going through a traumatic environment and situation. They may never want to go back there,” Jennings said.
Auburn police said the two people injured did not have life-threatening injuries. Investigators encourage anyone with information about the shooting to contact the Auburn Police Department tip line at 253-288-7403.
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