Homicide at Veterans Memorial Park is still under investigation

More than a month after what police say they believe to have been a murder at Veterans Memorial Park, the 19-year-old man found there with a bullet in his head is still without a name and a city.

At least publicly.

“The detectives tell me it’s an active investigation and the name of the victim is very sensitive to the case. Releasing the name could compromise the case,” Kolby Crossley, public information officer for the Auburn Police Department, said Monday.

The King County Medical Examiner has not released the victim’s name or his exact manner of death.

Here are the facts of the case, according to the Auburn Police Department.

The man was shot and killed at Veterans Memorial Park early Wednesday evening, Feb. 23. From the start, the APD began investigating the case as a possible homicide, although it had no suspects in custody and still has none.

Police responded to the park at about 6:15 p.m after neighbors reported hearing gunshots in the area, and found the man on the ground with a single gunshot wound. Despite the efforts of paramedics, the man died at the scene.

“There was at least one gunshot, and it doesn’t appear to be a random act,” Crossley said in the initial report. “We are working on some leads, but currently do not have any suspects.”

If anyone has information that could help with the investigation, please contact the Auburn Police Department at 253-388-7403.

The Auburn Reporter will update this report as additional information comes in.