Investigators believe the fatal gunfire came from a passing vehicle near College Street Southeast and 24th Avenue SE.
LACEY, Wash. — Two teenage brothers were found shot to death early Friday in a marked crosswalk at College Street Southeast and 24th Avenue SE, police said. Officers responded about 1:50 a.m., performed aid with medics and pronounced both teens dead at the scene.
Police identified the victims as Alexander M. Borgen, 16, of Lacey, and his brother, Deven J. Borgen, 17, of Rainier. The killings halted traffic for hours on one of Lacey’s busiest north-south corridors and drew investigators to an intersection just south of Mountain View Elementary School. Detectives said evidence indicates a drive-by shooting. No arrests had been announced as of Sunday, and investigators were seeking video from nearby homes and businesses between 1 and 2 a.m. Friday.
Officers and firefighters arrived minutes after multiple 911 callers reported gunfire in the neighborhood. The brothers were found side by side in the crosswalk near the roundabout, according to first responders on scene. “It’s heartbreaking for the families and for this community,” Lacey Police Department Detective Sgt. Knight said Friday morning. The roadway reopened around 10:45 a.m. after crime-scene technicians documented shell casings and other evidence. Neighbors said they were awakened by sirens and saw police lights reflecting off homes as the intersection was taped off.
Police said preliminary findings point to shots fired from a moving vehicle. Investigators had not released a suspect description or a vehicle make as of Sunday. The Thurston County Coroner’s Office scheduled examinations to determine exact causes and the number of wounds. Detectives asked anyone with surveillance footage south of 24th Avenue SE along College Street SE to share recordings from 1 to 2 a.m. Friday. Officials said the brothers were pronounced dead at the scene after medics’ efforts, and there was no indication of an ongoing threat to the public. The intersection sits less than a quarter mile from Mountain View Elementary School.
The double homicide is among the most serious recent violent crimes reported in Lacey, a city of roughly 59,000 in Thurston County. Records show College Street Southeast is a major arterial lined with schools, parks and residential neighborhoods. In recent years, local agencies have added roundabouts and flashing crosswalk beacons along the corridor to slow traffic and improve safety. Police said gun violence of this kind is uncommon in the immediate area, though they regularly respond to quality-of-life calls and collisions along the route. The early-morning timing limited bystander traffic but complicated the search for witnesses.
Lacey police are leading the investigation with support from the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office and regional crime-scene specialists. Detectives planned to review private surveillance systems, traffic cameras and license plate readers where available. The Coroner’s Office will complete autopsies and issue death certificates. If arrests are made, prosecutors would review potential charges that could include first-degree murder and unlawful possession or discharge of a firearm, depending on findings. Authorities said additional updates would be released after the medical examinations and once investigators confirm vehicle details or identify any persons of interest.
Residents filtered past the police tape Friday morning to check bus stop notices and detours. “We’ve never had anything like this this close to our neighborhood,” said Elena Walker, who lives a few blocks away. “It’s shocking to see this at the crosswalk we use every day.” Another neighbor described waking around 4:30 a.m. to red and blue lights filling the kitchen. A small memorial of flowers formed near the curb by late afternoon as crews removed numbered evidence markers from the pavement. Lacey Fire District 3 personnel who responded said crews attempted lifesaving measures before the scene transitioned to a homicide investigation.
As of Sunday evening, no suspects had been publicly named and no vehicle description had been released. The next expected updates include cause-of-death findings from the Coroner’s Office and any developments from surveillance reviews. Police said additional information would be provided when investigators can confirm details and notify extended family.
Author note: Last updated November 16, 2025.