Bite of Seattle shooting: Judge orders 15-year-old suspect to remain in custody

A judge ruled Tuesday that the 15-year-old boy arrested in connection with July’s deadly Bite of Seattle shooting will not be released from custody.

The boy’s attorney had requested electronic home monitoring at his father’s home. The boy’s father attended Tuesday’s hearing, as did victim advocates and a juvenile probation counselor.

What prosecutors say happened at the Bite of Seattle shooting

On July 26, three people died, including one of the suspected shooters. Four others, including a 2-year-old boy, were wounded during what was a gang-related shooting at Seattle Center.

Prosecutors claim the boy fired at least three shots into the crowd from a “ghost gun” with an extended magazine that could hold up to 33 rounds with the words “1 SHOT, 1 KILL” on it.

“There is no greater threat to the community than a person indiscriminately firing into a crowd of adults and children who only wanted to attend and enjoy the Bite of Seattle,” the prosecution stated in an August 28 court filing obtained by KIRO Newsradio. “The Respondent should remain in secured detention due to him being a threat to community safety.”

Video allegedly shows suspect with ‘1 SHOT, 1 KILL’ firearm before shooting

The document goes on to say that police have recovered a video recorded hours prior to the shooting that shows “a group of young men (including one of the deceased) and eleven firearms, including the Respondent’s ‘1 SHOT, 1 KILL’ firearm.”

Three guns were recovered at the scene, one of which had not been fired.

Defense argues self-defense, says no bullets forensically linked to teen

In a court filing requesting the boy’s release, the defense argued that, prior to the shooting, he had had no prior involvement with the juvenile justice system.

“At the time of his arrest, (he) told officers, ‘I was getting shot at,'” the defense wrote. “So, he shot back in self-defense.”

In the filing, the defense also points out that none of the bullets recovered from the bodies of the people who died, or from those who were wounded have been forensically linked to the boy, or the gun he allegedly had on him when police arrested him.

“(He) has enrolled in the various programs available to youth in detention and has earned several certificates for attendance and good behavior,” the defense wrote in the filing. “He enjoys school and plans to continue to pursue his education online.”

Judge denies release, orders teen to remain in secure detention

At Tuesday’s hearing, a judge denied the request to release the boy to his father and ordered he remain in secured detention.

The boy is charged with Assault in the First Degree and Unlawful Possession of Firearm in the Second Degree.

A status hearing in the case is scheduled for October 8.

So far, he is the only person who has been arrested in connection with the shooting. However, Interim Seattle Police Chief Andre Sayles told KIRO-7 on Tuesday they are “closing in” on two people of interest.

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