Boy who bailed out of a stolen car later found dead in swamp, Lakewood police say
A boy who fled with other juveniles from a reportedly stolen vehicle was found unresponsive in a nearby swamp and later died, Lakewood police said Monday.
Lakewood Police Department officers were alerted to a stolen Kia Sportage on Saturday at 10:05 p.m. The Kia was traveling west on Steilacoom Boulevard Southwest near Lakewood Drive. Officers followed the Kia, without lights or siren at a normal speed. When the Kia drove near a locked gate at Lochburn Middle School, officers turned on their lights and siren to stop the car, according to a Lakewood Police Department news release.
The car continued north on Woodlawn Avenue Southwest, which is a dead end. When the driver stopped at the end of the street, several people jumped out and ran towards a marsh. There were about five people in the car, the release said.
Officers recovered the stolen car and allegedly found a modified handgun on the ground nearby and another gun in the car. Officers found two of the suspects. They were reportedly wet, possibly from being in the swamp, the release said.
A third juvenile was seen about 40 feet out in the swamp. Officers tried to get the boy out of the water, but he refused. Officers went into the water up to their thighs to retrieve him. Once in the water, officers were not immediately able to find the boy and began to search the area where he was last seen, the release said.
They found the boy submerged in about three feet of water. Officers took him out of the water and said he was unresponsive. Officers and West Pierce Fire & Rescue medical personnel began live-saving measures. The boy was taken to Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital and died there, the release said.
Officers remained in the area Saturday night and into Sunday to search for the fourth and fifth suspects. No other people were found. Another firearm was found in the swamp near where the boy who died was found, the release stated.
Major-crimes detectives are conducting a follow up investigation.
