Man shot at Moses Lake gas station

MOSES LAKE - A 40-year-old Moses Lake man was shot at a Pioneer Way gas station Thursday afternoon.

Police were notified of the shooting about 1:30 p.m. When officers arrived, they found the victim inside the gas station, at the corner of Pioneer Way and Nelson Road, Moses Lake police Chief Dean Mitchell said.

The victim was transported to Samaritan Hospital for treatment. The victim's condition is unknown, but Mitchell said the man was talking when he saw him.

Witnesses reported seeing a 2002 Chevrolet Tahoe fleeing the scene, he said. Police stopped a car matching the description near the intersection of state Route 17 and Road 3 Northeast. Two suspects were taken into custody.

Mitchell didn't know where the victim was shot, what type of weapon was used or why the shooting occurred, saying the incident was still under investigation, he said.

The shooting triggered a lock down at Garden Heights Elementary School, Chief Moses Middle School and Moses Lake High School, said Mark Johnson, the Moses Lake School District's executive director of business and operations. Students not in class were escorted to the nearest classroom and visitors were advised a situation occurred and they needed to stay at the schools.

Officials sent an e-mail to staff members about the situation as well as notifying parents of the students in all three schools notifying them about the lock down, he said.

The lockdown started at about 1:30 p.m. and lasted for about a half hour, Johnson said.

More information will be available in Monday's paper.