WASHINGTON, USA — Felony juvenile crime rates are on the rise in King County, with data showing cases are returning to pre-pandemic levels.
"You didn't hear about it for the last couple years, I think that's why people are so surprised to hear about these cases, but also, there are very serious cases that we're charging and that we're getting every week," said Casey McNerthney with the King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office.
On Tuesday, Seattle police released a video of three juveniles accused of stealing a car crashing into a car and then into a police cruiser before rolling upside down.
Police also recovered a gun and all three were arrested. One of them was released and the other two were in juvenile detention for investigation of auto theft and illegally having a gun.
The incident happened in December in the Beacon Hill neighborhood and was recently released.
This case highlights the growing number of vehicle theft and unlawful firearm possession in juvenile courts.
Data from the King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office showed vehicle theft skyrocketed in 2023 and is up compared to pre-pandemic numbers.
In 2019, there were 70 cases, that number dropped to 27 in 2022 and last year shot up to 159.
Juveniles having guns is another crime that's increasing. In 2019, there were 36 unlawful firearm possession cases, which went down to 26 in 2022, and back up to 48 in 2023.
"What we also see too is very often the people who are involved in juvenile crime are from really traumatized homes and that creates more problems and it compounds. We've got to have clear accountability; both have to be thoughtful of that, but we have to have clear accountability because it's not an excuse to victimize other people," said McNerthney.
Most recently, two brothers, ages 12 and 13, went before a judge and are accused of carjacking a woman at gunpoint, attempting to carjack and man, then leading police on a pursuit. When they were caught, police uncovered they each had "kit guns," commonly known as "ghost guns," which do not have a serial number and are untraceable.
Ghost guns are not illegal federally, but they are on the state level in Washington.
"A ghost gun is a firearm that's built from a combination of parts. They can use them for personal use, however, it becomes illegal once they transfer that firearm to another person without going through the proper procedures," said Jonathan Blais, Special Agent in Charge for ATF.
ATF is seeing more juveniles use these types of guns and, as a whole, recovering more off the street.
"We have seen a profound increase in the use and recovery of these ghost guns all the way in the Pacific Northwest region from Portland to Seattle, and over the last couple of years is I can easily say is doubled and tripled in the amount of recoveries," Blais said.
ATF said the rise in these guns being used is because they're easy to put together and untraceable.
"It is very shocking that children that young are possessing these firearms and, in fact, using them to commit acts of crime," Blais said.
KING 5 asked how kids are getting their hands on these guns.
"They're acquiring these through their friends, contacts, through social media applications, where people will list these firearms for sale, as well as other illegal contraband such as drugs," Blais said.
"There is a sense of hopelessness among community youth. I think that when you feel this as a hopelessness, it interferes with your rational thinking," said Richard Finley, the outreach and engagement director for Southeast Networks.
The organization is based out of the Boys and Girls Club of King County and helps ensure youth have their basic needs and support systems to keep them out of trouble.
"I definitely see that there is a larger percentage of young people who are experiencing poverty, who are being put in situations where they're having to make difficult decisions about how they're going to feed themself every day," said Ricole Jones, targeted program director for SE Networks.
The organization works with upwards of 500 young people to help them get food, housing, and even financial literacy.
The group has programs to help teens in the legal system.
"We're trying to find ways to be able to help them to turn from any crime or criminal activity to be in a positive, productive citizen, and by doing that, they have internships with companies and organizations that provide that," Finley said.
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