West Seattle Teenager Shot and Killed, Washington Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action Respond 

SEATTLE — The Washington chapters of Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action, both part of Everytown for Gun Safety’s grassroots networks, issued the following statement following reports of a teenager shot and killed yesterday in a youth recreation center in West Seattle. According to early reports, a 14-year-old boy was found shot and wounded in the bathroom at the Southwest Teen Life Center. 

“Our hearts break for the family and friends of the victim,” said Sue Shutz, a volunteer with the Washington chapter of Moms Demand Action. “It’s incomprehensible that an afternoon in a youth recreation center can become deadly – but sadly these instances have become far-too-common in this country. We should all feel safe in our communities and we shouldn’t need to worry that when we drop off our children at the local recreation center, that goodbye could be our last. We will not yield until we break free from the vicious cycle of gun violence once and for all.” 

This week, Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action volunteers commemorate National Gun Violence Survivors Week (Jan. 22-26) to remember the victims and survivors of the gun violence crisis. During National Gun Violence Survivors Week and throughout the year, we honor those in Washington and across the nation who have been impacted by the varying forms of gun violence, and stand with them as they embark on the all-too common journey of processing and healing that survivors of gun violence must face.

In an average year, 853 people die by guns in Washington. With a rate of 10.8 deaths per 100,000 people, Washington has the 40th-highest rate of gun deaths in the US. More information about gun violence in Washington is available here.