Officers found the victim unconscious near Alder Lane before dawn Wednesday.
KENT, Wash. — Kent police are investigating the death of a young girl found early Wednesday near an apartment complex after officers responded to a report of gunfire in the 400 block of Alder Lane.
The case remains open because investigators have not confirmed how the woman died. Police said she had visible injuries to her head and face when officers found her unconscious. The King County Medical Examiner’s Office is expected to determine her cause and manner of death while detectives review evidence and speak with witnesses.
Officers were dispatched at about 4:20 a.m. Wednesday after a 911 caller reported shots fired near Alder Lane, close to Maple Lane South. Police said officers arrived and found the young woman outside. Officers and medics tried life-saving aid, but she died at the scene. Kent Police Chief Rafael Padilla said detectives and the medical examiner were working to determine whether she was struck by gunfire or died from another cause. Police had not released her name by Wednesday afternoon.
Authorities also had not confirmed her age, though police said they believed she may have been under 18. No arrests had been announced, and police had not named a suspect. Investigators were gathering information from the area, including possible video from homes and apartments near the scene. Officials did not say whether a weapon had been recovered, whether shell casings were found or how many people may have been present when the gunfire was reported.
Neighbors described a fast and frightening scene before dawn. Avrey Tuttle, who lives nearby, said she saw part of the incident unfold on security cameras and heard a series of popping sounds. “Definitely a sound I will never forget,” Tuttle said. She said her video showed a group of young people in the area before a car drove up. She said she then heard about six pops and saw a car speed away.
The death drew concern in a residential part of Kent’s East Hill area, where apartment buildings and homes sit near busy local streets. Residents told local reporters the violence shook families who woke up to police activity outside. One teenager who said she was friends with the victim described her as kind and funny. Police have not confirmed witness accounts that the victim was shot.
The next formal step is the medical examiner’s ruling, which will identify the victim after family notification and determine whether her death was caused by gunfire, blunt force injury or another cause. Detectives are expected to review witness statements, 911 records, security video and physical evidence collected near Alder Lane.
By Thursday, the investigation had not produced a public arrest or suspect description. Police continued to treat the death as suspicious while waiting for medical findings and additional evidence. The next milestone is the medical examiner’s official ruling.
Author note: Last updated June 4, 2026.