Gage Bruce Killed in Shooting at Maiben Park

 

Burlington, WA:  Burlington Police responded to reports of “shots fired” at Maiben Park on May 25th.

Responding officers talked to multiple witnesses who reported hearing 6 or 7 shots in the area.

Several of the witnesses reported seeing people running from the area and there were also reports of two vehicles leaving the area at a high rate of speed.

Arriving Burlington Police Officers did not find any victims at the park, but Burlington Police did find  Shell casings in the area where  the shooting was reported.

Troopers from the Washington State Patrol and a K-9 from Mount Vernon Police  responded to set up containment of the area for a search for suspects.

There was a tense couple of minutes when a Burlington Officer checked out with a possible suspect matching the description given and Skagit 9-1-1 could not get a hold of him on the radio.

A short time later, Skagit 9-1-1 received reports from United General Hospital that a male was at the Hospital Emergency Room with a Gunshot wound. He had been brought there by a private vehicle.  Sedro Woolley Police responded to the hospital to assist.

After the  mother of the victim  posted a comment on social media that her son had been shot, a crowd of around 50 Friends and family of the victim started arriving at United General Hospital.

A witnesses at the Hospital for an unrelated incident stated  “The staff at United General Hospital took great efforts to save the life of the shooting victim but  were unable to revive him.”

Once the crowd learned of the death of the victim, the news of his passing spread quickly on social media as his friends and family posted their condolences online.  They identified the victim as Gage Bruce. Many local Social media news feeds are filled today with photos and condolences of his passing.   Note: Several of our viewers were upset with the fact that his name was being posted by his friends online and we did our best to limit his name from our site. We set up filters including his name and all comments that included his name after that were automatically hidden.  

The victims family is no stranger to loss.  His mother, Julie Orestad has already lost two kids in the last two years prior to the shooting. Her daughter,  Megan Brown, was one of several people killed in a car accident near Sedro Woolley just over a year ago.

In that accident,  Alfredo Navarro Jr. (who was just sentenced to 15 years in prison)  was driving drunk when he  crossed the center line and slammed head-on into a vehicle driven by Fred Brand.  Fred Brand was killed and two women in Alfredo’s vehicle were killed,   21-year-old Megan Brown and 23-year-old Nicole Washington.

The driver, 19- year old Alfredo Navarro Jr. and 22 year old Quinnton Baxter were airlifted to Harborview. Alfredo was later sentenced to 15 years in prison for his role in the accident.

Prior to the accident where Megan was killed, the family had lost another brother, Jake Brown. Jake died in Decemeber after an Asthma Attack.  Their mother, Julie Orestad has lost three kids in a matter of a couple years.  I can’t imagine the amount of grief she is dealing with.

A photo from the Go Fund Me Account:

*EDITED*  Burlington Police would only say they are trying to track down and interview witnesses but many witnesses have been less than helpful and uncooperative.

The shooter remains at large.

Friends have set up a go fund me account to help Gages Mom,  Julie Orestad with funeral and memorial expenses. The link to the go fund me is here: 
This story is developing and additional information will be released once it becomes available.