Teen stabbed to death during fight
SULTAN, Wash. -- A teenage boy was stabbed to death during a fight on a street here early Wednesday morning, and the killers remain at large.
Lt. Jeff Brand said the 15-year-old victim was attacked near the intersection of 4th Street and Main Street just after midnight. A woman found the teen lying in the street around 1:30 a.m. and called police.
"We saw the guy shaking his head," said witness Krystal Chaffee. "It looked like he was in and out of convulsions."
The boy was taken to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle to be treated for several stab wounds to the stomach, but he was pronounced dead when he arrived.
Brand said the victim, whose name was not released, was from Lynnwood and apparently knew the attackers. So far no arrests have been made, and it was not clear what prompted the killing.
"At this point we're still in the early stages of the investigation," Brand said.
Deputies said they've reviewed surveillance footage from cameras at neighboring Sky Valley Visitors Information Center, and said they have pinpointed persons of interest.
Resident Debbie Copple said the video clearly shows a group of people beating up the victim. Copple said her husband installed the cameras two years ago after local teens began loitering and causing trouble in the area late at night.
"There's only a handful of people who are really causing all the problems," she said.
On Wednesday morning police cordoned off a home a few blocks away from the murder scene near 3rd and Cedar.
Neighbors said the home's residents hosted a loud party in the hours before the stabbing. They reported the party to authorities, but said it broke up just after midnight -- minutes before the victim was found.
Neighbors said the family who lives at the home has five children, four of whom are teenagers. They said the two oldest boys are known to be troublemakers.
"These guys started moving in a year and half, two years ago," said resident Caleb Blankenbaker. "They started acting like there were gangs around here, and everybody started grouping together."
The family was kept out of the home all day Wednesday as deputies wait for a search warrant to be issued. Deputies said they're looking to compose the warrant with precise wording as they're looking for a specific item inside the house.
Lt. Jeff Brand said the 15-year-old victim was attacked near the intersection of 4th Street and Main Street just after midnight. A woman found the teen lying in the street around 1:30 a.m. and called police.
"We saw the guy shaking his head," said witness Krystal Chaffee. "It looked like he was in and out of convulsions."
The boy was taken to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle to be treated for several stab wounds to the stomach, but he was pronounced dead when he arrived.
Brand said the victim, whose name was not released, was from Lynnwood and apparently knew the attackers. So far no arrests have been made, and it was not clear what prompted the killing.
"At this point we're still in the early stages of the investigation," Brand said.
Deputies said they've reviewed surveillance footage from cameras at neighboring Sky Valley Visitors Information Center, and said they have pinpointed persons of interest.
Resident Debbie Copple said the video clearly shows a group of people beating up the victim. Copple said her husband installed the cameras two years ago after local teens began loitering and causing trouble in the area late at night.
"There's only a handful of people who are really causing all the problems," she said.
On Wednesday morning police cordoned off a home a few blocks away from the murder scene near 3rd and Cedar.
Neighbors said the home's residents hosted a loud party in the hours before the stabbing. They reported the party to authorities, but said it broke up just after midnight -- minutes before the victim was found.
Neighbors said the family who lives at the home has five children, four of whom are teenagers. They said the two oldest boys are known to be troublemakers.
"These guys started moving in a year and half, two years ago," said resident Caleb Blankenbaker. "They started acting like there were gangs around here, and everybody started grouping together."
The family was kept out of the home all day Wednesday as deputies wait for a search warrant to be issued. Deputies said they're looking to compose the warrant with precise wording as they're looking for a specific item inside the house.
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