A video that the Tacoma Police Department says shows an adult firing at children circulated online Thursday, prompting officers to respond to the neighborhood where the clip appears to have been recorded. Investigators have not released the identity of the person in the footage or said whether any children were hurt.
According to KIRO 7, Tacoma police shared the raw video on their official channels and described the incident as an adult shooting at kids. The station aired a brief, chaotic clip that authorities say they are analyzing while interviewing witnesses and working to find the person who fired the weapon. As of publication time, police had not announced any arrests or filed charges in the case.
Legal implications
If investigators determine the footage accurately captures what happened, Washington law offers several possible criminal charges, including reckless endangerment and unlawful discharge of a firearm. RCW 9A.36.045 addresses drive-by shooting and reckless discharges that create a substantial risk of death or serious injury, and RCW 9A.36.050 covers reckless endangerment. Statutes on criminal mistreatment address harms to children and other dependents (see RCW 9A.36.045 on Justia and RCW 9A.42.020 on Justia). Whether prosecutors file charges, and which ones they might choose, would depend on evidence about intent, any injuries and the circumstances that detectives document…