Reader Hit By Airsoft Gun While Walking Kids Home From School

We received this email from a reader:

Thursday afternoon, on September 27, at approximately 3:40pm, a Laurelhurst resident, who was walking her children home from school in the alley that parallels the boulevard near NE 43rd Street, was shot in the back at close range by an unsupervised school-age boy with an Airsoft gun.

It's important for residents to know that these pellet guns are unlawful in public places (such as an alley) and that parents should exercise good judgment. Small children, the elderly and pets use our alleys on a frequent basis and I'd hate to see anyone else get harmed in a similar manner

According to Seattle Municipal Code SMC 12A.14.083 Weapons in Public Places:

A. It is unlawful to knowingly carry or shoot any spring gun, air gun, sling or slingshot in, upon or onto any public place.

B. For purposes of this section, "public place" means an area generally open to the public, regardless of whether it is privately owned, and includes,
but is not limited to, streets, sidewalks, bridges, alleys, plazas, parks, parking lots, transit stations, transit vehicles and buildings.


RCW 9.41.230

Aiming or discharging firearms, dangerous weapons.

(1) For conduct not amounting to a violation of chapter 9A.36 RCW, any person who:

(a) Aims any firearm, whether loaded or not, at or towards any human being;

(b) Willfully discharges any firearm, air gun, or other weapon, or throws any deadly missile in a public place, or in any place where any person might be endangered thereby. A public place shall not include any location at which firearms are authorized to be lawfully discharged; or

(c) Except as provided in RCW 9.41.185, sets a so-called trap, spring pistol, rifle, or other dangerous weapon,

although no injury results, is guilty of a gross misdemeanor punishable under chapter 9A.20 RCW.

(2) If an injury results from a violation of subsection (1) of this section, the person violating subsection (1) of this section shall be subject to the applicable provisions of chapters 9A.32 and 9A.36 RCW.