SEATTLE - Detectives from the King County Sheriff's Office have recovered four handguns and 25 spent cartridges as they continue to investigate the shooting on Saturday night that left two dead and three with gunshot wounds.
Investigators believe the shooting happened after a fist fight broke out between two groups picnicking at the park.
Yang Keovongphet, 33, of Kent and Justin Cunningham, 30, of Seattle, were killed.
Sgt. John Urquhart says two of the guns were in a car stopped leaving the scene, one gun was found in a marsh area near picnic tables, and the fourth was found near the body of Cunningham.
Urquhart said three other people were wounded during the shooting, but none of the injuries are life threatening. The victims include a 20-year-old North Bend man, a 22-year-old Seattle man, and a 16-year-old from Renton. All were treated at Harborview Medical Center.
A fourth victim was treated at Overlake Hospital. He was beaten after the shooting, and his injuries are not serious.
Investigators say they believe all the victims have ties to gangs in the Seattle area.
Cunningham's family says he was not affiliated with gangs and was at the park for a child's birthday party. They believe he was coming to someone's aid.
But investigators believe that party was also attended by people connected to gangs and a group with opposing gang ties picnicked about 50 yards away.
Apparently, taunts escalated and a fight broke out, then gunfire.
A police source says Keovongphet may have been affiliated with the Crips. But Keovongphet's stepsister, Sakorn Keopanya, said he was not a gang member, he was just trying to be a peacemaker.
"And in the end he was the one that was shot," she said. "It's just hard to watch your family go through this, to see the heartbreak of everybody."
Detectives are interviewing witnesses and preparing evidence for the Crime Lab. Anyone with additional information is asked to call the Sheriff's Office at (206) 296-3311.
