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Gang ties probed in motive for fatal shooting at park (Birthday picnic shootout)
Seattle Times ^ | July 18, 2010 | Jennifer Sullivan and Janet I. Tu

Posted on 07/19/2010 1:54:39 AM PDT by tlb

One group was gathered around a birthday cake on a picnic table.

Though separated by 50 to 75 feet at Lake Sammamish State Park, several members of one group walked over and taunted members of the second group. The reason is unclear, though Urquhart said members of each group had gang affiliations. And many had firearms.

A fistfight erupted around 9 p.m., and someone from one group apparently fired a gun into the air as a warning. After that, "it sounds to me like everybody pulled out guns," Urquhart said.

...up to 20 shots filled the air. When the gunfire stopped, two men had fatal wounds and four more were injured.

Urquhart said it's unclear whether the motive for the shootings stemmed from a gang rivalry, though investigators are looking into that. He said the groups were made up of people of mainly Asian descent.

The two men killed — one from each group — have not been identified. One is a 33-year-old of Asian descent from Kent, and the other is 30, white and from Seattle, Urquhart said. At least one of them is believed to have fired gunshots.

All of the dead and wounded were with the two picnicking groups.

Alcohol may have played a role in the shootings, authorities said.

The two large groups totaled about 40 people and included families with children. One group had a birthday cake, squirt guns and other toys, chicken sizzling on the grill and coolers with beer when the gunfire erupted, the source said.

Visitors can bring handguns into state parks if they have a concealed-weapons permit, said Mealing. The Sheriff's Office has not said whether the two men killed or the others who were armed had legal permits.

Hunting and target shooting are not allowed in state parks, Mealing said.

(Excerpt) Read more at seattletimes.nwsource.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Extended News; US: Washington
KEYWORDS: birthday; gangs; picnic; thugs
Twenty shots, six hits. Better average then usual for such events.

I trust the shooters had proper gun permits.

1 posted on 07/19/2010 1:54:44 AM PDT by tlb
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To: tlb
Alcohol may have played a role in the shootings, authorities said.

Oh no! Say it ain't so!

2 posted on 07/19/2010 2:00:38 AM PDT by Islander7 (If you want to anger conservatives, lie to them. If you want to anger liberals, tell them the truth.)
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To: tlb

What would Asian descent include? I think they said this so as not to be more specific.


3 posted on 07/19/2010 2:36:59 AM PDT by Sacajaweau (What)
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To: Sacajaweau
"What would Asian descent include? I think they said this so as not to be more specific."

They probably just said Asian so we wouldn't blame it on the Amish.

4 posted on 07/19/2010 2:54:36 AM PDT by Jaxter ("Pro Aris et Focis")
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To: tlb

The word “Asian” is so vague that it is meaningless.


5 posted on 07/19/2010 4:44:35 AM PDT by Leftism is Mentally Deranged (leftism: uncurable mental deterioration)
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To: tlb

So: What stopped it? Did they run out of ammunition?

Sounds like they were doing the world a favor and killing each other off , too bad they stopped shooting.


6 posted on 07/19/2010 4:47:34 AM PDT by Venturer
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To: tlb
“Hunting and target shooting are not allowed in state parks, Mealing said.”

Except during picnics.

7 posted on 07/19/2010 5:05:10 AM PDT by pappyone (New to Freep, still working a tag line.)
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To: tlb; All
Visitors can bring handguns into state parks if they have a concealed-weapons permit, said Mealing. The Sheriff's Office has not said whether the two men killed or the others who were armed had legal permits.

They had to get an anti gun rant in there. Only a fool would believe these law breaking gang bangers had permits to carry, just another example of why gun laws don't work.

8 posted on 07/19/2010 5:24:59 AM PDT by calex59
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To: tlb
The Sheriff's Office has not said whether the two men killed or the others who were armed had legal permits.

I'm guessing they didn't.

9 posted on 07/19/2010 7:20:43 AM PDT by SuziQ
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