Grant Co. Fairgrounds evacuated after shooting

MOSES LAKE — The carnival portion of the Grant County Fairgrounds was closed down and evacuated Friday evening after a shooting occurred at about 9 p.m., according to Grant County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer Kyle Foreman. 

“Cops were walking up on this as the shots rang out because they had their attention drawn over to it. Shots (were) fired. The cops go running to aid the two shooting victims,” Foreman said. 

Witnesses in the crowd identified the shooter who was attempting to flee. However, members of the crowd “hockey-checked” the suspect into a fence, which allowed members of GCSO's Crime Reduction Team to apprehend him quickly, Foreman said.  

A statement from GCSO issued Saturday indicated that the incident began as a gang-related verbal argument between the shooter and members of a rival gang. The suspect drew his handgun and one round went off, hitting the two victims. The suspect’s age was initially unknown Friday evening but he was later identified as a 15-year-old from Wenatchee. No suspect name has been released as yet and is not likely to be released due to the suspect being a minor. 

Two juvenile victims were injured in the shooting and taken to Samaritan Healthcare in Moses Lake for treatment, the statement said. Both were reported in stable condition with serious but non-life-threatening wounds. One of the victims was a 16-year-old girl who was attending the carnival with the suspect and his family. She sustained gunshot wounds to her back. A second victim, a 14-year-old girl was a bystander and was struck in the leg by the same shot that hit the 16-year-old.

The Columbia Basin Herald does not identify minors who are victims of crimes and law enforcement generally will not identify suspects below the age of 18.  

The carnival side of the fairgrounds was evacuated while the rodeo continued until all events were done. 

Grant County Fairgrounds Director Jim McKiernan said the fair would be open Saturday, and tickets for the fair will be honored. Additionally, admission to the fair will be free.  

“Our plan tomorrow is to honor any ticket holders that purchased tickets today, and they can come in tomorrow,” McKiernan said. “And we’re also going to just make the fair free for anyone that wants to come. The plan is to continue our entertainment, which we’ve got some Hispanic bands planned for tomorrow and our grounds entertainment.”  

Those who purchased carnival wristbands were offered 25 ride tickets as compensation for their purchase. 

At this time it is believed this is an isolated incident.  

Foreman said GCSO’s response plan for any such incident went according to plan, though department officials would have preferred it not happen.  

“It’s an unfortunate incident,” McKiernan said.  

MACC 911, the Moses Lake Police Department, Grant County Fire District 5, the Washington State Patrol and Grant County Fairgrounds staff all assisted GCSO in the incident.

This was the third arrest at the fair this year's fair season, according to an earlier GCSO announcement.

Thursday, Crime Reduction Team deputies identified a group of suspected gang members entering the fairgrounds. That group saw that officers were following them and split up and ran. One member of the group, age 17, was arrested for unlawful possession of a firearm, second-degree criminal trespassing and an outstanding felony warrant from another county. He was lodged in the Chelan County Juvenile Justice Center. 

Another Thursday incident involved a report of a fight that resulted in a juvenile being found with a handgun. That individual was released to his parents and a report has been filed with the Grant County Prosecuting Attorney for consideration of prosecution.

Editor's note: This article has been updated throughout as updates were received from GCSO.