Child Airlifted After Shooting in Olympic National Forest
A young person was flown to a trauma facility after being injured by gunfire in a wooded area early Sunday morning, according to the Mason County Sheriff’s Office.
Authorities were alerted around 3:30 a.m. on May 3, when MACECOM received a 911 call from a motorist. The caller reported that his vehicle had been fired upon and that a child passenger had been struck by a round, prompting him to drive directly to Mason General Hospital.
Sheriff’s deputies met the reporting party at the medical facility. Following an evaluation by medical staff, the child was transported by air to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle for specialized care. The victim's health status has not been disclosed.
Investigators determined that the shooting took place in a remote section of the Olympic National Forest near Forest Service Road 23 and Spider Lake.
Patrol deputies arrived at the location and located several people connected to the event. After conducting an on-scene investigation, authorities detained one person, who was booked into the Mason County Jail.
The Mason County Sheriff’s Office stated the individual faces a charge of first-degree assault.
Detectives from the Mason County Sheriff’s Office have assumed responsibility for the case and are continuing to investigate the events that led to the gunfire.