Many thanks to reader Chris for this "What was that?"

Listening to the scanner yesterday (8/27) there were lots of Pierce County units and some from Tacoma responding to shootings in the area of Harvard elementary. Multiple 'victims' were taken to area hospitals (accompanied by
officers) and detectives were called, as a large amount of dope was discovered at the scene. Some of the deputies observed that appeared to be "a dope rip-off".

Here's the story I have filed for Tuesday's paper.

A 14-year-old boy was shot and seriously injured Saturday afternoon in what appears to be a drug deal gone bad in an elementary school parking lot, the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department reported.

The boy was taken to Mary Bridge Children's Hospital and Health Center, where he was undergoing treatment, Pierce County sheriff's spokesman Ed Troyer said Monday. The boy was in serious condition with a gunshot wound to the back, Troyer said Monday.

No arrests have been made in the shooting.

"We've got young people with guns and it's going sideways on school lots," Troyer said. "That's not acceptable."

According to deputies, the boy and two others went to Harvard Elementary School, 1709 85th St. E., just before 4:30 p.m.

"Tentatively, we believe they were trying to get some drugs," Troyer said. "It went sideways."

The teen and his friends ran away when gunshots were fired. The 14-year-old was struck in the back.

He got into a friend's car and she drove him to a nearby grocery store, where paramedics were called.

The girl and a 17-year-old boy with the victim tried to walk away but were stopped by a bystander, Troyer said. Investigators interviewed the two and arrested the boy on suspicion of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Troyer said investigators found some marijuana on the younger boy.