Yakima police respond to 2 drive-by shootings

YAKIMA — Yakima police dealt with two drive-by shootings Wednesday, arresting four suspects in one of the cases.

The first was shortly after noon, when a 17-year-old boy walking near the Garfield Elementary School was shot by someone in a vehicle that pulled up next to him, Yakima police Sgt. Einar Algedal said.

Witnesses reported hearing two shots, the Yakima Herald-Republic reported. The boy was taken to Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, Algedal said. School was not in session at the time.

Around 2:25 p.m., police spotted a stolen car that was connected with the shooting, and it sped, striking an Educational Service District 105 bus, rolling over and damaging other cars, Lt. Chad Stephens said.

The bus driver had what appeared to be minor injuries, while the four people in the car were taken to a local hospital to be checked before being taken into custody, Stephens said. No children were on the bus, Stephens said.

Police also found a gun on one of the people the car.

At 4:30 p.m., police responded to a report of a drive-by shooting at Kiwanis Park, where a 19-year-old was shot in the lower extremities, Capt. Shawn Boyle said. The victim was taken by private car to the hospital.

Both shootings are believed to be gang-related, police say, but it is not known at this time if they are connected.