15-year-old charged with assault, gun offense in Seattle mass shooting
by Darryl Coote · UPIJuly 29 (UPI) -- A King County prosecutor on Wednesday filed assault and weapons charges against a 15-year-old arrested in connection with a mass shooting at Seattle's annual food festival.
Three people were killed and four others, including a 2-year-old, were wounded Sunday evening in a shooting that erupted at the Bite of Seattle food festival. Police believe it was a targeted, gang-related shootout involving several individuals. The 15-year-old was arrested at the scene, while a 19-year-old suspect was among those killed. Police are searching for at least one additional suspect.
The King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office said in a statement that the arrested 15-year-old was charged Wednesday with one count each of assault in the first degree with a firearm enhancement and unlawful possession of a firearm in the second degree.
The attorney's office said the assault charge stems from "firing multiple times into a crowd" and the gun charge was filed because youth under the age of 18 generally may not possess handguns.
"Some people have asked: Why not charge murder today? Police investigators have not referred the case as a murder case because the investigation is ongoing," the office said.
"If they refer information for additional charges, prosecutors will review that information immediately."
The attorney's office said it made a motion Wednesday asking a judge to decline juvenile jurisdiction, would would allow the 15-year-old to be prosecuted as an adult. The process typically takes several months.
The prosecutors said they also asked for the defendant to remain in secure detention.
The shooting has shaken the city of Seattle. Authorities earlier this week identified the dead as Sanchez Villalba, 44, and Ashley Whitehead, 56, and Cee Nike Semo, 19. Villalba and Whitehead were bystanders and Semo is believed to have been one oof the shooters. Villalba and Semo were pronounced dead at the scene while the Whitehead died at Harborview Medical Center.
The four wounded victims, who are also believed to have been bystanders, have all been discharged from the hospital.
Authorities said 14 shell casing were recovered from the scene, and three guns have been recovered in connection with the shooting.
Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes has said that when arrested, the 15-year-old was allegedly in possession of a polymer80 9mm untraceable ghost gun with an extended 33-round magazine containing 19 rounds.
A second, compact 9mm pistol with a standard magazine was also recovered from the scene, he said, though police do not believe it was used in the shooting.
The third firearm was recovered during a food vendor cleanup effort. Barnes said it was a Glock 45 9mm with a fully automatic switch. It also had an extended, 40-round-capacity magazine, with 21 rounds remaining.
"Our detectives believe that the polymer ghost gun and the Glock 45 were used in this act of violence, but we are still waiting on ballistic testing to be completed," he said at a Tuesday press conference.