Video: Teen shot and killed at Tacoma community center

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TACOMA, Wash. - Police are trying to track down the shooters who left two young men dead Saturday night. Both shootings happened when unwanted visitors tried to crash parties.

Police spokesman Mark Fulghum says the first incident was reported at about 10:25 p.m. About 150 people were attending a sweet-16 party at the South End Neighborhood Center when a group of uninvited people wanted to join.

After they were told they were not welcome, somebody pulled a gun and opened fire.

"We were watching TV when I heard the gunshots," said young Joanna Garcia, who lives next door to the community center. "I woke up really quick and my mom came running."

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Phillip Johnson

When police arrived on the scene they found two male victims, both teenagers. Phillip Johnson, 18, was rushed to St. Joseph's Hospital where he died. The other victim suffered a gunshot wound to the hand.

Johnson's friends say he was trying to keep things peaceful when the violence escalated.

"He was trying to stop people so we could come back in. He was trying to dance,” said friend Chris Harris.

Since the party was a non-alcoholic event, a security guard was not required to be on site. Metro parks says that could change.

"Of course anytime things go sideways, you take time to assess,” said Nancy Johnson, Metro Parks spokesperson.

Investigators say the shooting may have been gang-related, but friends say Johnson was not in a gang. They say he was a typical teenager looking to have fun on a Saturday night.

"It’s still not hit me. I don't even know. I hope he saved me a spot up there, that's all I gotta say,” said friend A.O. Williams.

The second shooting, about two hours later, occurred about a mile away outside a home in the 5600 block of S. Yakima.

Again, people who wanted to join the party inside were turned away. Fulghum says they left, but then returned and there was an "exchange of gunfire."

Victor Schwenke, 18, was hit and later died at a hospital.

KING 5's Eric Schudiske and Drew Mikkelsen contributed to this report.