Update: 3 Tri-Cities teens accused in drive-by Airsoft shooting of 5-year-old and others

Police arrested three teens Wednesday for allegedly shooting a 5-year-old girl and other kids and adults with Airsoft guns as they drove around in a truck.

Investigators had been searching for a silver pickup and the teens after the girl was shot with Airsoft pellets while playing in her front yard at 4:45 p.m. Tuesday on the 1900 block of West Fourth Place

The teens took turns firing at people including a person near the intersection of West Fourth Avenue and South Vancouver Street, said Kennewick police. The person suffered several large welts.

As police investigated, five more kids and two more adults came forward to say they also had been shot.

Police tracked the suspects to a home on the 1600 block of West First Avenue, and arrested Dweight Watkins, 19, as well as a 17-year-old boy and a 14-year-old boy.

The three friends were believed to have been in the back of the truck, said police Lt. Aaron Clem.

Police served a search warrant at the house and found several Airsoft pistols and an Airsoft rifle believed used in the shooting, according to a release.

Watkins was booked into the Benton County jail on suspicion of third-degree assault. The younger teens were taken to the Benton Franklin Juvenile Detention Center on suspicion of similar charges.

“Kennewick Police Department would like to thank the community in their response that led to a peaceful resolution in this case,” police said in a release.

This story was originally published May 5, 2021 at 10:29 AM.