15-year-old Seattle Center shooting suspect charged with first-degree assault; prosecutors seek adult trial
Here's what's trending across the USA right now:
The teen, who KUOW isn’t naming because he’s a minor, is charged with first-degree assault with a firearm enhancement — for firing multiple times into a crowd — and second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm.
Adding to this, Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes shared Tuesday the 15-year-old had an illegal “ghost gun” – an untraceable firearm assembled from individual parts — with an extended magazine that was missing rounds after the shooting.
Meanwhile, 2 weapons with extended magazines, including ‘ghost gun,’ recovered from shooting scene In a statement to reporters, King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office spokesperson Casey McNerthney shared, “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. If they refer information for additional charges, prosecutors will review that information immediately.”
Notably, The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office is also seeking to have the teen tried in adult court. The judge will have to go through a legal process that typically takes several months before making a decision on that request. The maximum sentence for the assault charge, if convicted as an adult, would be roughly eight to 10 years, plus five years for the firearm enhancement. However, the judge would have discretion to sentence the teenager to a shorter term than the adult range.
As per the latest buzz, Police say it’s presently not clear who fired which shots in the shootout that killed three and injured five, including a 2-year-old. Charging documents say preliminary results indicate the 15-year-old's handgun did not fire the bullets that killed Carlos Israel Sanchez Villalba or Ashley Whitehead. But they allege that the juvenile "shot multiple times in an event largely filled with people."
In further updates, 3 victims killed in Seattle Center shooting identified Other court documents allege that the third man who died in the shooting, 19-year-old Junior Cee Niko Semo, was involved in the gunfight along with at least one other unknown suspect. The documents say SPD recovered casings from four guns at the scene.
On top of that, In addition to the ghost gun, officers recovered two more firearms from the scene: one with an extended magazine they believe was also involved in the shooting, and one police say wasn’t used Sunday night.
'I made it out alive.’ Shooting survivor recounts harrowing escape on inline skates This is the first case involving the 15-year-old suspect to be referred to Seattle Police, according to prosecutors. It’s also the only criminal case so far related to the Bite of Seattle shooting.
Source: KUOW