Update: New details on suspect arrested in Alki shooting

The day after our first report of an arrest in the May 1st Alki shooting — as announced by Southwest Precinct Lt. Steve Paulsen during last night’s West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting – we have new details on the case, from the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. The suspect is identified as 17-year-old Anthony Riccardo Verzola of Federal Way, and he is charged wth first-degree assault and second-degree unlawful weapon possession. Court documents indicate that “tips” helped lead police to Verzola, who is to answer the charge at arraignment on May 28. The documents also say Verzola has two previous convictions for unlawful firearm possession, as well as a drug conviction; one of the weapons convictions happened on April 3rd, less than a month before the shooting. He is in custody with bail set at $250,000; documents indicate he was arrested on May 12th in Kent. (Policy note: While our default would be to not identify a juvenile suspect, WSB is publishing this suspect’s name, now that he is charged, because of the seriousness of the crime. One more note – May 1st photo above by David Hutchinson.)

12 Replies to "Update: New details on suspect arrested in Alki shooting"

  • mike May 20, 2009 (3:43 pm)

    Do the documents elaborate on what the weapons convictions are?

  • GenHillOne May 20, 2009 (3:47 pm)

    He’s from Federal Way? greaaaat. BTW, why would it not be attempted murder?

  • Scott (no, the other Scott) May 20, 2009 (4:48 pm)

    @GenHillOne-

    There’s no such crime in Washington; you’ve either committed murder (if the victim dies) or some degree of assault. First degree assault is the most serious charge available which is roughly equivalent to “attempted murder” although the intent only has to be to “inflict great bodily harm.”

  • JimmyG May 20, 2009 (4:57 pm)

    Jail register only shows him charged with Assault 1. And it appears he was booked into jail on the 15th and then he bailed out on the 17th and then was re-arrested on the 19th (probably at his arraignment) and they raised the bail from 25k to 250k.

  • WSB May 20, 2009 (5:04 pm)

    Well, I’ve got the docs straight from the prosecutor’s office, at my request, not sent unsolicited. Will check on the discrepancy.

  • GenHillOne May 20, 2009 (5:15 pm)

    Thanks Scott – seems like our system is missing a degree of intent there, doesn’t it.

  • Carole May 20, 2009 (7:49 pm)

    Jail register not always complete. Prior weapons are probably unlawful possession of weapon. Any prior crime would have included a condition of no weapon, so having one would be a separate crime. He’s charged with assault and weapon charge. Charged at juvie. If pros. asks to try as an adult a judge would decide after a hearing on that.

  • old timer May 20, 2009 (8:36 pm)

    17 years old, playing with guns, priors – what possible reason to not treat this vermin as an adult?

  • alki_2008 May 20, 2009 (9:27 pm)

    Yay! According to the Seattle Times…the shooter will be charged as an adult. Their article also has some interesting info about his prior criminal record: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2009242441_webalkiarrest20m.html

  • b'smomma May 21, 2009 (10:41 am)

    “Jail officials apparently misread Verzola’s bail information”…….. That’s comfoting!

  • b\'smomma May 21, 2009 (10:47 am)

    Errrrrg…… comfoRting!

  • Admiral Lady May 22, 2009 (12:28 am)

    This guy is a total loser, I could care less that he is 17. When I was 17, I for sure knew what shooting someone or at someone ment. Please, I hope he is locked up at Walla Walla for YEARS to come! There are SO many families, and normal people just trying to enjoy Alki on a nice day. I get sick of hearing about these idiots coming from other areas (i.e Fed Way, Kent, etc..) to our neighborhood and committing these kinds of crimes in broad daylight. UGH!! I look forward to a bigger Alki police presence this summer…

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