15-year-old charged with first-degree assault in Bite of Seattle shooting as murder investigation continues

The 15-year-old in custody in connection with a gang-related mass shooting at Seattle Center has been charged with assault.

The teen was charged with first-degree assault with a firearm enhancement and second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm, according to the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office (KCPAO).

“The assault charge is for firing multiple times into a crowd,” KCPAO Director of Communications Casey McNerthney stated in a news release. “The gun charge is for unlawfully possessing a firearm — people under age 18 cannot legally possess a handgun.”

Prosecutors request teen be tried as adult

McNerthney noted that when someone is charged with assault in the first degree as a 16-year-old or 17-year-old in Washington, the case moves to adult court without a hearing. When the person is 15 years old, the decision goes to a judge.

Prosecutors are requesting the case move to adult jurisdiction.

“That determination will be made by a judge after hearing from prosecutors and defense, which is a process that typically takes several months,” McNerthney stated.

No murder charge as investigation ongoing

Three people were killed, and at least four people were injured in the shooting Sunday. A ghost gun was seized from the 15-year-old and was one of three firearms recovered. However, police are still working to determine whether the teen killed anyone or the deadly shots came from another suspect.

McNerthney clarified that the teen is not being charged with murder because police investigators have not yet referred the case as a murder investigation, which remains ongoing.

“If they refer information for additional charges, prosecutors will review that information immediately,” he stated.

McNerthney told KIRO Newsradio that although investigators are working to determine the extent of the teen’s crimes, they currently have sufficient evidence for assault.

“You want to make sure that you can prove what you bring before the court,” he said. “So right now Seattle Police investigators are working on trying to determine what exactly happened, and I would imagine that includes what bullets from which guns. And that investigation could go on for several more days or weeks.”

Police looking for another suspect

Police are currently looking for another suspect, as they believe three gunmen were involved: 19-year-old Junior Semo, who was killed at the scene, the 15-year-old, and another gunman on the loose.

Police believe Semo was an acquaintance of the 15-year-old.

According to court documents, as officers removed the 15-year-old from the scene, police heard him say, “Love you bro” to Semo.

The 15-year-old has not had any previous cases referred to the attorney’s office. The next hearing in the case is Thursday.

This is a developing story, check back for updates.

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