Parents in Federal Way are voicing serious concerns after a student was shot near Lakeland Elementary School on Tuesday, and the school did not initiate a lockdown.
The incident occurred just after 2:45 p.m., when the King County Sheriff’s Office responded to reports of a gunshot and found a juvenile with a gunshot wound on the school grounds. Officials later confirmed that the shooting involved students from Sequoyah Middle School.
Despite the proximity of the incident to Lakeland Elementary, students were released from school as scheduled around 3:05 p.m. That decision is now drawing criticism from parents who feel the school’s response lacked urgency and transparency.
“My daughter was sitting in her classroom when this happened,” said Danny Quintero, a parent of a fifth grader. “They knew about the shooting twenty minutes before school let out—why was nothing done?”
Federal Way Public Schools stated that the shooting took place on the far end of the playground, a part of the campus furthest from any of the school buildings. No students were reportedly present in that area at the time of the incident.
Authorities say the suspect was quickly taken into custody and there was no ongoing threat. However, many parents are questioning why no lockdown was initiated, and why communication was delayed.
In a statement, FWPS explained:
“There were no immediate signs or sounds of danger that would have required a lockdown. By the time the school and district were made aware of the situation, law enforcement had already secured the area and confirmed the suspect was in custody.”
Still, parents like Quintero argue that communication with families was inadequate. He says it wasn’t until nearly 8 p.m.—five hours after the shooting—that the school sent out an initial message explaining what happened. An official email detailing the event wasn’t sent until Wednesday afternoon.
“You expect a plan to be in place, especially with how fast communication can happen today,” Quintero said. “There’s just no reason those kids should’ve been released without stronger protocols.”
While the school district maintains that student safety is their top priority, Quintero believes stronger action is needed going forward.
“There should be immediate response teams. An officer should be on campus or at least someone ensuring no child leaves until everything is verified as safe,” he said. “This is our community. It shouldn’t be downplayed.”
FWPS reiterated its commitment to student safety in a follow-up message, saying:
“Our priority is to ensure a safe and supportive environment where all students can thrive. We remain committed to taking every necessary step to protect our school communities.”
For additional guidance, the Washington State Legislature provides information on school safety plans, lockdown procedures, and coordination with first responders on its official website.
