CRIME WATCH FOLLOWUP: Hearings for two of three teens charged in Alki/Beach Drive carjacking/robbery attempts

Two weeks after three teenage boys were arrested following three Alki/Beach Drive robbery/carjacking attempts and a police chase, two had detention reviews today. The one we labeled suspect #1, the 14-year-old allegedly driving the stolen car while leading police on that chase, will stay in juvenile detention at the Youth Services Center. The other 14-year-old, suspect #2, is now on electronic home monitoring. Today’s hearing for suspect #3, who is 16, was postponed until next Monday; his detention status will be reviewed then. Each of the three is charged with one count of first-degree attempted robbery and one count of second-degree robbery, plus one auto-theft-related charge. The robbery and attempts were reported to 911 within the span of eight minutes just before 10 pm on December 18th – first 2800 block of Alki, then 59th/Admiral, then the 5700 block of Beach Drive.

Rhonda January 4, 2024 (3:07 am)

I’m glad that at least two of them are still in juvenile detention.

pip squeak January 4, 2024 (6:48 am)

Throw the book at them. These kids are so young to be doing such dangerous criminal acts. If they don’t feel severe consequences now, they are sure to continue this behavior.

G January 4, 2024 (9:38 am)

Hear, hear.
- Jeff January 4, 2024 (1:51 pm)
  
  No. Cruel.
DRW January 4, 2024 (12:38 pm)

Yes, its time to get tough on crime.
- HenryChinaski January 4, 2024 (1:25 pm)
  
  Yes, no doubt, way past time
Agree January 4, 2024 (1:25 pm)

Couldn’t agree more.

NoAnswers January 4, 2024 (11:12 am)

Really sad, at 14 years old… what kind of upbringing does a kid have to have that lets them believe this is OK? Time for the state to step in with some structure.

Jeff January 4, 2024 (1:51 pm)

I’m glad you agree that they shouldn’t be in a cage for mistakes of society at least. Central District had solutions to youth stuff like this with CAYA. Maybe west seattle and Burien follow that model.
- Thomas January 4, 2024 (4:29 pm)
  
  What are you talking about? Society didn’t fail him,his parents did!What is a 14 year old doing wondering the streets robbing and stealing late at night.We need a curfew for those under 18 .Parents need to be held accountable for allowing these kids to be out committing violent crimes
  - JH January 4, 2024 (7:00 pm)
    
    I don’t think any of us on this comment board can know what or who failed these kids, but it’s definitely tragic for their lives to be going this direction so young. I don’t pretend to know the answers, but solutions that engage parents and guardians in accountability make some amount of sense, assuming there are functioning adults who can be engaged. “Throwing the book at them” seems more likely to return them to society as hardened criminals than to make them turn over a new leaf, but that doesn’t mean serious and meaningful consequences can’t be imposed. Do those have to equal imprisonment? It’s frustrating that we don’t seem to have societal solutions that aren’t either a dysfunctional carceral system or leaving them to continue on the same path. They’re 14. Maybe society hasn’t failed them yet, but how can we make sure it doesn’t?

1994 January 4, 2024 (10:19 pm)

Thanks WSB for the follow up. Electronic home monitoring will only last as long as the device remains on the body. They can remove it and go on another terrorist spree.

alki_2008 January 4, 2024 (11:55 pm)

Weren’t the kids that shot the pot shop employee to death also on electronic home monitoring? I hope the parents/guardians of the kids in this case are keeping an eye on them now.

DEAD ENDER January 7, 2024 (1:00 pm)

Cruel would be: they all get tried as adults, a 3 strikes law puts them all in by age 15-17 for life without parole. Or, could cruel be: they shoot someone for exercising their rights to be out and about in West-5?Leave law enforcement, crimes and punishment to the Police and the Judiciary.If you don’t like the results, consider entering those chosen, fields and make a difference from within.

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