Video: Four boys linked to fatal stabbing in Kent

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KENT, Wash. – An Auburn teen who is being remembered as bright, fun and loving was killed trying to break up a fight Friday night. Now, the King County Sheriff's Office says detectives have identified four teens that were there when Jesse Atwal was killed.

King County sheriff's Sgt. John Urquhart says two of the teens are 17 and the other two are 14. He adds that no others are being sought.

"He was a loving, kind person. He had a very open heart to everyone. He didn't deserve this," said friend Gursharan Singh.

Close friends of Atwal are keeping vigil at his family's home, trying to comfort his parents who are devastated by the loss of their only child.

"The worst tragedy and the worst nightmare a parent can go through," said Jatinder Atwal, Jesse's aunt.

Sheriff's investigators say Atwal was hanging out with friends late Friday night at the playground at Orchard Park Elementary in Kent. Another group of teens showed up and, somehow, a fight broke out between a few of the young men. Witnesses say when Jesse tried to break up the fight, he was stabbed in the stomach by someone from the other group.

"He was in the wrong place at the wrong time," said friend Kris Swami.

"Jesse was as a really humble guy. He cared for everyone. He had no beef with anyone," said friend Vhanraj Sarai.

The investigation into the stabbing and what precipitated the fight is continuing. No arrests have been made.

"He was in the wrong place at the wrong time," said friend Kris Swami.

"Jesse was as a really humble guy. He cared for everyone. He had no beef with anyone," said friend Vhanraj Sarai.
Family and friends say Jesse was a fun, loving, normal 16-year-old. He enjoyed going to temple, loved politics and was planning on a career in law.

At Auburn High School, Atwal is being remembered as a good student who was on the fast track. The Junior was taking college classes as part of the Running Start program. With the accelerated learning schedule, Jesse was set to earn an associate's degree by the time he graduated high school.

"Passing the entrance exam to get into the program says a lot about his caliber as a student and his plans for the future," said principal Paul Harvey.

Urquhart said detectives don't believe the stabbing is either gang or racially motivated.