SEATTLE — The 12-year-old and 13-year-old boys charged for allegedly stealing a car at gunpoint, and attempting to steal a second before leading Seattle police on a chase, pleaded not guilty on Tuesday, Feb. 20.
The 12-year-old faces charges of first-degree robbery, theft of a motor vehicle, first-degree attempted robbery and unlawful possession of a firearm in the second degree due to his age.
The 13-year-old faces charges of first-degree robbery, theft of a motor vehicle, attempting to elude police, first-degree attempted robbery and unlawful possession of a firearm due to his age.
Court records indicate the two are brothers.
A judge granted the 12-year-old be released on home electronic monitoring but is not allowed to have contact with his brother. The judge denied release for the 13-year-old.
On Tuesday, Feb. 13, police officers were in the area of Aurora Avenue North and North 88th Street near the Greenwood neighborhood for reports of two boys walking around with a handgun when they were sent to a nearby carjacking.
A woman said she had just arrived home near North 85th Street and Aurora Avenue North when she was approached by the suspects who tapped on her windows, pointed a gun at her and told her to get out.
One of the suspects fired a shot into the air, she told police - a shell casing was later found at the scene.
The two boys drove off in her Subaru Outback.
Officers were sent to the 12200 block of Phinney Avenue North in the Bitter Lake neighborhood around 9:30 p.m. after a man reported an attempted carjacking at gunpoint.
Richard Galliher, the man who the boys attempted to carjack, previously told KING 5 the teens tried to take his car as well an hour after the first time but were unsuccessful.
“He's tapping his pistol on the window, asking for the car. I realized that there's also another person on the driver's side of the car with a pistol,” Galliher said, adding that he held his ground. He said the suspects gave him an upset look after he didn't hand over any belongings and they fired a gunshot into the air.
Shortly after, Seattle police located the Subaru near North 125th Street and Aurora Avenue North. A pursuit was authorized and the King County Sheriff's Office support helicopter assisted.
Police officers tried to stop the suspects near Wallingford Avenue North and North 82nd Street, but they fled on state Route 99.
The pursuit ended at Seventh Avenue North and Thomas Street.
The boys tried to run and tossed guns during a foot pursuit, according to Seattle police. They were arrested and both guns were found.
Data from the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office shows an increase in juvenile felony crimes. Prosecutors said juvenile crime rates are returning to pre-pandemic levels.
In 2018 there were 86 vehicle theft felony juvenile case filings in King County. That dropped to 70 in 2019. Vehicle theft case filings hit a low of 27 in 2022. It jumped up to 159 in 2023.