A 13-year-old boy from Washington was apprehended by authorities after he committed a brazen act of theft and assault at a Seattle pharmacy earlier this month. The incident, which occurred on April 6 in the 2600 block of Southwest Barton Street, was captured on the pharmacy’s surveillance camera, providing crucial evidence for the investigation.
The video footage reveals two teenagers approaching a woman near the pharmacy’s entrance. In a swift motion, one of the teens snatches the woman’s purse from her hands. As the woman gives chase outside the store, the contents of her purse scatter onto the sidewalk. Additional juveniles present at the scene can be seen picking up the fallen items. At one point, the woman confronts one of the young suspects, who responds by raising his fists and delivering a punch to her face before departing with the others.
Upon receiving reports of a strong-arm robbery, the Seattle Police Department promptly dispatched officers to the scene. The victim recounted her ordeal to the police, explaining that an employee had confronted a group of teenagers inside the store, accusing them of not paying for merchandise. She detailed how the purse snatching unfolded, further revealing that the teen forcefully grabbed her shirt, causing her to fall to the ground, and proceeded to strike her face multiple times.
Subsequently, law enforcement located the primary suspect, along with two other teenagers, near the intersection of 18th Avenue Southwest and Southwest Barton Street. Officer-worn bodycam footage captures the moment officers approach the 13-year-old suspect. Inquiring if he is being detained, the teen receives confirmation from an officer, who proceeds to inform him of his arrest for robbery. Expressing disbelief, the suspect exclaims, “Robbery? What the f—.” As officers attempt to handcuff him, the boy makes a futile attempt to flee, as depicted in the police footage. However, officers swiftly apprehend him a few steps away and successfully place him in handcuffs.
Following his arrest, the 13-year-old was booked into the Judge Patricia H. Clark Children and Family Justice Center for investigation of robbery. The two other teens involved were identified and subsequently released.
