17-year-old boy killed in Steel Lake Park shooting identified

Three others also shot, including a 12-year-old bystander.

Detectives are still piecing together the events of what led to a shooting July 27 at Steel Lake Park in Federal Way that left one boy dead and injured three other people, including a 12-year-old bystander.

The King County Medical Examiner’s Office has identified the Tacoma boy who was killed in the shooting as 17-year-old Brice Armstrong, who died from a gunshot wound to the pelvis. His death has been ruled a homicide.

Around 9:15 p.m. July 27, officers responded to reports of a shooting at Steel Lake Park. Upon arrival, two victims were located. The 17-year-old died at the scene and a 22-year-old man remains in critical condition due to multiple gunshot wounds in the torso and arm, according to a probable cause statement from the King County Prosecutor’s Office.

Later in the evening, two additional victims were discovered to have also been shot at the park.

According to preliminary information from Federal Way detectives, a fight broke out between two men, the deceased boy and the critically injured man.

The 28-year-old female suspect, who was associated with the two men, was reported to have been firing a gun. She has been booked into King County Jail and a charging decision is expected Friday (July 31).

The 30-year-old male victim with minor injuries was also associated with this group, police say. He left the park after the shooting, but returned later to report that he had been shot.

Detectives are also looking into the possibility that another person associated with the group also fired a gun.

The 12-year-old victim was not part of the group that was fighting, police say. The boy was with his family, preparing to leave the park at the time of the shooting. He suffered injuries to the abdomen and arm.

No guns have been recovered yet and Federal Way police are still trying to obtain more details.

Anyone with information related to this incident should call FWPD’s non-emergency line at 253-835-2121 or submit an online tip at safecityfw.com.

Tips can be anonymous, but police are asking for identification to be able to contact the callers in case clarification is needed.