2:24 PM: Big police search under way right now for armed robbers: Southwest Precinct Lt. Pierre Davis confirms a “jewelry/pawn shop” in the 9400 block of 16th SW (map) was held up by four robbers wearing masks. He says officers are currently “conducting a search for evidence and suspects.” We also heard some potential description information on the scanner – a Crown Victoria car that “looks like an old green-over-red taxi” might be associated with the robbers. As always, call 911 if you think you see or hear something related.
2:37 PM UPDATE: There’s a sizable police presence off Roxbury that we are told is related to the search for the robbers and ‘evidence.’ And this is indeed why there was at least one TV helicopter over the area.
3:21 PM UPDATE: Police are still searching – right now we’re seeing some in Roxhill Park. We stopped by nearby Roxhill Elementary, too, after hearing it mentioned as part of scanner discussion; the staff told us the school “sheltered in place” for a short time.
4:15 PM UPDATE: Per scanner traffic, three vehicles, including a Crown Victoria, were being searched in connection with this investigation. But Lt. Davis says nobody’s been arrested yet.
8:33 PM UPDATE: From SPD Blotter, more details and descriptions:
On February 9th at approximately 12:26 p.m. four male suspects entered a combination grocery/jewelry store located in the 9400 block of 16th Avenue SW. At least one suspect was armed with a handgun. All four suspects were wearing dark-colored bandannas, black hooded sweatshirts and gloves. The suspects confronted the 58-year-old female victim (the storeowner and the only other person present inside the store at the time of the robbery).
The suspects ordered the victim onto the ground and repeatedly threatened to shoot her. The suspects then went directly to a safe that was open and is located behind the counter. The suspects grabbed several display trays containing jewelry and fled out a back door. A witness saw the suspects run out of the business and flee the scene in a silver van.
Responding officers located a silver Dodge Caravan in the parking lot of an apartment complex in the 9400 block of 27th Avenue SW. A witness saw several males matching the suspects’ description exit the van and flee the area in another vehicle described as a red and green Ford Crown Victoria 4-door sedan. The Ford sedan and the four suspects remain at large.
Investigating officers impounded the silver Dodge Caravan which was taken to the evidence garage for processing.
The four suspects are described as follows:
Suspect #1: Asian male, early 20′s, 6 feet tall, 175 pounds, brown eyes and black hair.
Suspect #2: Black male, late teens, 6 feet tall, 130 pounds, brown eyes and black hair.
Suspect #3: Black male, late teens, 6 feet tall, 165 pounds, brown eyes and black hair.
Suspect #4: possibly a Hispanic male; no further description.
Robbery detectives responded to the scene and continue to actively investigate.
Anyone with information about this incident or who may know the identities or whereabouts of any of the involved suspects is asked to call 911 or the Seattle Police Robbery Unit at (206) 684-5535 and refer to this incident. Anonymous tips are welcome.
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