Jungle shooter: It was a mistake not to shoot remaining witness
Feb 2, 2016, 4:52 PM | Updated: 5:02 pm
The three brothers lived under this 4th Avenue South ramp with their mother. They were arrested there on Feb. 1. (Jillian Raftery, KIRO Radio)
(Jillian Raftery, KIRO Radio)
Three suspects in a fatal shooting in Seattle’s notorious homeless camp, The Jungle, had their first appearance in front of a judge Tuesday, and further details of the gruesome incident have been brought to light.
Related: Three teenagers arrested in connection to Seattle’s Jungle shooting
The three suspects — ages 13, 16 and 17 — are brothers, according to court documents. They have not been charged yet, but are being held on investigation of homicide at the Youth Detention Center.
Seattle detectives were able to track the brothers down through a variety of witnesses to the incident, along with informants. Police arrested all three on Monday night on 4th Ave. South near I-90.
During their investigation, one of the brothers commented that it was a mistake to leave some of those witnesses alive.
The brothers lived near the site of the shooting, in a tent with their mother under an on-ramp at 4th Avenue South and Edgar Martinez Way. The brothers are suspects in other robberies and homicides in 2015, according to the documents.
The two older brothers allegedly told informants, under surveillance, they were the primary shooters on Jan. 26 — one wielding a .45 caliber handgun, and the other using a .22 caliber pistol.
After their arrest and upon being interviewed by detectives, the three brothers denied ever visiting The Jungle. But their stories slightly differed. On Jan. 26, they said they were celebrating their mother’s birthday and were at a restaurant in North Seattle between 6-9 p.m. before spending the rest of the night at a motel, also in North Seattle. Another brother said they saw the movie “Straight Outta Compton.”
Seattle police believe there is a case against the three brothers.
This is a developing story. Check back for further details.
