Followup: 3 charges filed against West Seattle bus-robberies suspect

(November 25th photo by Christopher Boffoli for WSB)
The man arrested after armed robberies aboard a Metro RapidRide bus in West Seattle one week ago (WSB coverage here) is now charged with three felonies. The charges filed this afternoon against 19-year-old Trevonnte Brown are two counts of first-degree robbery, one count of attempted first-degree robbery.

Charging documents say Brown confessed to police, said he did not regret what he had done, and “confessed to being involved in multiple additional thefts and robberies over the past few years.” If you missed the story last week – police say Brown had boarded the bus downtown and then, as it got to West Seattle, started holding up passengers at gunpoint, until one passenger grabbed his gun-wielding arm and others joined in subduing him. Court documents say he told police he decided to rob people because he needed money to get his car out of impound, and that he told them he had previously committed several “snatch-and-run” robberies. Stolen iPhones, he is reported to have told police, get him about $400 on the street.

Brown, a Beacon Hill resident, remains jailed in lieu of $350,000 bail. If convicted, he faces extra time for using a gun while committing the crimes; police have said a semi-automatic handgun was found at the scene. We’re still reviewing the charging documents and will add anything else notable.

McGruff December 2, 2013 (3:15 pm)

So if this little dear is convicted of all three felonies, is he eligible for Life under the ‘Three Strikes’ law? Let’s hope so; make an example of this obnoxious little oik.

cs December 2, 2013 (3:17 pm)

No regrets? Lovely. Back on the streets in, what, under a year?

homesick December 2, 2013 (3:32 pm)

send the little darling here to detroit.
i’ll be happy to drop him off on 8 mile, cuz there’s no regrets there either…

Jason December 2, 2013 (4:14 pm)

Was the gun loaded?

McGruff December 2, 2013 (5:12 pm)

Wha??? He’s admitted to the police that he’s committed several ‘snatch & run’ iPhone thefts before the bus robbery, and has “confessed to being involved in multiple additional thefts and robberies over the past few years.”?
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But I don’t understand; didn’t his mom tearfully declare in an interview after his arrest that he’s not ‘that kind of boy’, and that he’s a ‘good kid’?
.
Someone buy that lady a clue, quick!

Ms. Sparkles December 2, 2013 (5:21 pm)

19? No Regrets!? How can he be such a lost cause so young? Seriously – someone please tell me where he / his parent(s) went wrong. If he serves society in no other way at least let him be an educational warning.

Maggie December 2, 2013 (5:56 pm)

Sad and scary.

sc December 2, 2013 (6:08 pm)

If he has “no regrets” then he has no remorse.
But he did have a gun with him that he pointed at his robbery victims. I think that is “intent to harm” which I hope sends him to prison.

WSB December 2, 2013 (6:11 pm)

To be precise, quoting the charging document: “When asked if he was sorry for what he had done, he said that he was not, and that he knew the consequences of his actions.”

CandrewB December 2, 2013 (6:39 pm)

Guess he is ready for prison after all.

Alki Resident December 2, 2013 (6:49 pm)

Ms. Sparkles- the mom “had no clue” he was like this, aka, “what I dont know wont hurt me”. Moms know, and in this case Im sure she benefited at times of his thefts. This kid no doubt would pop someone off eventually for a gadget. He has NO business being on our streets, he needs to be locked up for good. No remorse, no freedom.

Diane December 2, 2013 (7:00 pm)

I saw one brief tv interview of the mom, in her home; she clearly is aware that her kid runs around with a gun; she asked him if he had a gun before going out that night, and something like, “do I have to frisk you?”

Eric December 2, 2013 (7:22 pm)

Need to get your car out of impound? Here’s a novel idea…get a job. Self entitled POS.

bus_rider December 2, 2013 (7:24 pm)

Who is buying $400 iPhones? My iPhone wasn’t that much when it was new. Is there an after-market buyer that police should focus on stopping like the metal thefts? Sorry, if I’m the only one ignorant on this issue.

Eric December 2, 2013 (7:28 pm)

I read somewhere that the mom even found out he had a gun, but the son told her it wasn’t loaded.

anne December 2, 2013 (8:58 pm)

to repeat Jason’s question, I wonder if the police report indicated the gun was loaded.

WSB December 2, 2013 (9:07 pm)

Neither the court documents nor the probable-cause documents nor the police-report narrative mention whether the gun was loaded or not; I’ve read all three.

Alki Resident December 2, 2013 (9:17 pm)

Why wasn’t this punk charged with attempted murder, x’s how ever many people had the gun put to them? Am I missing something? And how many innocent riders that day now suffer from PTSD because of this dramatic event? This situation could’ve turned out so much worse.

Jason December 2, 2013 (9:23 pm)

The business end is scary enough, loaded or not. I just wonder why it’s an unanswered question at this point. Is it common for SPD to comment on such things?

waterworld December 2, 2013 (9:48 pm)

McGruff: Unless Brown already has a conviction on his record for a “most serious offense” as defined by Washington law (that is, a “strike”), he cannot be sentenced to life without parole under the “three strikes” law, even if he is convicted of three strikes in connection with the charges in this case. Under the three strikes law, at least one of the strike convictions must have occurred prior to the commission of the other strike or strikes that lead to sentencing as a persistent offender. Put another way, a person cannot be deemed a “persistent offender” based on crimes he committed on a single occasion.

Alki Resident: Prosecutors cannot charge a person with attempted murder unless there is evidence that he or she had the intent to kill someone. If the defendant here had aimed the gun at someone and, fired it, and missed, that would probably support a charge of attempted murder. But putting people in danger, even very great danger, is not, by itself, attempted murder.

WSB December 2, 2013 (10:06 pm)

Thanks as always, WW. I should have mentioned this again – he has no criminal record. Traffic tickets a few weeks earlier are the only things I turned up in checks of courts here at all levels.

joel December 2, 2013 (10:04 pm)

too bad the gun was not turned on him and he was shot. these type of people add nothing to society and by his comments he seems proud of it. once he’s out of jail he’ll be at it again….a life of crime is all this person knows.

A December 2, 2013 (11:30 pm)

I was one of the victims that got the gun pointed at for attempted robbery. I believe that the U.S should stop looking at raising the prices and raising security. And start looking at the root of the problem and start fixing it! Such as, stronger mentoring, counseling for families And more programs in school. So that when this man comes out of prison that this incident will NEVER happen again!! Everybody should stop asking for a “band-aid” fix and should start looking for the root of the problem, so us tax payers can put our money to use and prevention!!! Take this from someone who had a gun pointed to their head. I’m not on either side but I was a kid once too, and I know at that age I, not “wanted” someone however, I “NEEDED” someone to guild me.

DarkHawke December 3, 2013 (4:43 am)

@A: The root of the problem is that far too many people have spent the better part of the last century in this country hell-bent on replacing morality, religious faith and personal responsibility with ever-increasing (and ever more costly) welfare programs, social workers that can overrule parents and tacit (or even outright) endorsements of licentious behavior. This is the result: kids and young adults with no conscience or empathy, but a MASSIVE level of entitlement. Thankfully, it isn’t really widespread (yet) or our world would look more like Mad Max’s destroyed future, but clearly this the leading edge of it. If we don’t “fundamentally change” where we’re going in this country real soon now, that very scary future will arrive sooner than we think.

bloodog December 3, 2013 (6:48 am)

I think it’s fascinating that the only person here who doesn’t want this kid locked up forever or dead is the one who had the gun pointed at their head. We can argue for days about the root of the problem, but I think compassion is always important to keep in mind, and I mean for everyone.

Morgan December 3, 2013 (11:23 am)

I agree with Alki Resident. A gun pointed at a head is attempted murder. The number one problem in this country is parents need to raise their kids with consequences! Kids need to be taught common courtesy, the Golden Rule, and respect. Welfare needs to end, I believe it breeds crime. I’ve worked since I was 15 and never been without a job, so has my entire family. And guess what, none of us have ever been involved in a crime!

HelperMonkey December 3, 2013 (11:28 am)

anyone else want to punch his mother in the face for unleashing this sad little sh-t on the world? She knew exactly what he was up to – and her tearful bs about what a good on the news is doubly infuriating knowing now that she knew he was a little punk ass gangbanger. now he’s going to Con College for a few years and when he gets out he’ll REALLY be trouble.

Jason December 3, 2013 (2:51 pm)

@bus_rider, the retail price of an iPhone is around $700. You bought yours with a contract, thus the reduced price.

John Prewett December 19, 2013 (5:28 am)

“until one passenger grabbed his gun-wielding arm and others joined in subduing him.”
Hats off to those who joined in,… but most especially to the initial man that fought back.

Iam Kerrying December 19, 2013 (9:00 am)

If I’d been on that bus the perp would have been shot as soon as he threatened anyone’s life.

Sargeant A December 20, 2013 (2:04 am)

Well this young man’s family will now speak. First of all my cousin is far from a thug or gangbanger, he has never been apart of that lifestyle ever!! He has many teachers, neighboers, neighbors, and employers who have vouched for that. Secondly, he has worked all during high school and after high school.

He did not admit to police that he had been involved in several robberies over the course of the past few years, that was asked of him. He was too busy working, being a part of the swim and wrestling team. He time was ALWAYS consumed….mainly haning out with family. My cousin has always been respectfu, caring, and considerate of others feelings.

I can recall him riding in the car with me, and while at a stop light he got out of the car to help an old lady cross the street. That’s how he was raised. If you listen to the news segment closing, my cousin (his mother) clearly states she heard he had a weapn and that he was entering the house with one. Hmmmmm….sounds like some good parenting to me.

When young teens start to hang around individuals that live a thug lifestyle, peer influence can easily come into play. My cousin had no record, graduated high school, with his diplome and on time, and had recently registered for college in the winter. His home life has been nothing but the best, no want or need for anything,and had the best of everything.

These young adults reach a certain age that they think they know it all, and don’t want to listen….things like this can happen.
We raise our kids to do right but we cant be with them 24/. And no the gun wast’t loaded because harm was never the intention. There should be some other alternative equal to prison for these young adults that will help them make better choices and are able to live productive lives after they are released.

It’s so fascinating how people are quick to judge others, until it happens to you. No one wants this for their child, and when you have a child that for some unknown reason, begins to sprial out of control, it’s devistating. This is not TreVonnte’s character at all, everyone that knows him is in disbelief, even his favorite neighbor who is a Metro driver. Yes- she is supporting him as well.

The media is not your friend, they only let you hear what they want you to hear.

Above at A, our family does deeply apologizes to you.

Sorry, comment time is over.