A 14-year-old boy who police were searching for after the July 2 fatal shooting of a Federal Way teen has turned himself into the police.
Just after midnight on July 2, Federal Way police were dispatched to a shooting at the Maplewood Apartment complex in the 32100 block of 46th Place SW, according to Federal Way police Commander Kurt Schwan.
Police found a 14-year-old boy had been killed from an apparent gunshot wound inside the apartment, Schwan said.
On Tuesday, the King County Medical Examiner’s office confirmed the identity of the deceased victim as Alex Gonzales. His cause of death was a gunshot wound to the head and his death was ruled a homicide.
Police previously told the Mirror that the shooting may have resulted from the juveniles’ mishandling of a firearm. Federal Way police are still investigating the incident and gathering information to provide to prosecutors who will ultimately determine whether the shooting was accidental or not, Schwan said.
The firearm used in the killing was not recovered at the scene on July 2 and has not yet been found, police confirmed.
The shooting occurred inside the apartment where the victim lived with his family, who were inside the apartment at the time of the shooting, Schwan noted.
Based on investigative interviews, each invidual who resides in the apartment said they have never owned a gun nor brought a firearm into the residence, police said. These statements lead police to conclude someone brought the firearm into the apartment, Schwan said.
Upon police questioning, the 14-year-old who turned himself in on July 6 made no statement about the firearm, Schwan said.
Since the fatal shooting, few questions have been answered, but community support has poured in.
A GoFundMe page organized by a family friend has so far raised $2,810 of the $5,000 goal to cover Alex’s funeral expenses.
“He was only 14 and this isn’t something anyone expected to have to plan for,” according to the GoFundMe page. “He was so young and had so much potential. Our hearts are shattered.”
