Young suspect charged after screwdriver attack near Amazon Fresh in Seattle

Seattle, Washington – Seattle police said that authorities apprehended a 12-year-old boy following a violent robbery in the city’s Central District that injured a woman. On the night of January 17, police were sent to the area around 23rd Avenue South and South Jackson Street after complaints of an attack.

The Seattle Police Department said that around 6:50 p.m., patrol officers showed up and found a 43-year-old woman with injuries to her face. Investigators found out that woman had recently been robbed at a neighboring Amazon Fresh grocery store. Police said that the suspect was a teenager wearing a bright pink ski mask who confronted the victim and started hitting her.

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According to police, the boy hit the victim in the face many times with his hands before taking out a screwdriver. He then used the tool to poke her in the face, hitting her left cheek. The suspect stole the woman’s purse and ran away after the first attack.

The situation didn’t end there. The officers found out that the boy walked into a parking garage nearby and looked through the stolen bag. A few minutes later, he went back to the victim and attacked her again before running away on foot. The woman suffered an injury but the police didn’t say how bad her condition was.

Credit: Seattle Police Department

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As officers searched for the suspect, they spotted someone matching the description. The boy ran when police approached. Because of his age, the unique clothes that witnesses described, and past interactions with the police, officers were able to find him and figure out where he lived.

Later, police went to the boy’s family’s house and got a search warrant to arrest him. He was arrested without incident, and police found the screwdriver they think was used in the attack. The police confirmed the arrest the next day.

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The Judge Patricia H. Clark Children & Family Justice Center put the subject in juvenile detention. Detectives who work on robbery cases continue to investigate the incident.

Court records show the boy has been charged in King County Juvenile Court with second-degree robbery and obstructing a law enforcement officer. The obstruction charge comes from his trying to get away from the police during the search. Several days later, he went to court for the first time and pleaded not guilty during his arraignment.

In Washington state, felony robbery cases with kids this age must stay in juvenile court. A juvenile court judge will handle the case, and probation counselors will also be involved. The case cannot be moved to adult court. There is no bail in juvenile proceedings, so the boy stays in jail while the judicial procedure moves forward.

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Prosecutors say the charges are based on evidence acquired during the investigation.