Washington police recently arrested two teenagers who they say were involved in a robbery that ended in gunfire. The alleged teenage offenders are 16 and 18 years old, and both are still in police custody. A judge set the 16-year-old boy’s bail at $25,000, while the older teen has a bail of $250,000.
The incident took place on April 9, when the two teens and another 18-year-old allegedly tried to commit armed robbery. Purportedly, the three young men met with someone they had arranged a gun trade with over the social media app Snapchat. Rather than exchange firearms, the group of three teens supposedly tried to take all of them. The 16-year-old had allegedly attempted to do this before with the same person.
Law enforcement says that both the teens and the dealer via Snapchat started shooting after that. One person was injured after suffering a shot to his leg. One of the 18-year-olds was also shot and died from his injuries. He was the older brother of the 16-year-old. The 18-year-old teen who is in police custody claims that he was never part of any robbery plan.
It is not clear what charges either of the alleged teenage offenders face, although criminal charges for incidents that involve fatalities are usually quite serious. Creating a strong criminal defense is essential for preserving their futures, including things like employment opportunities. But knowing where to start with that planning is not always easy, so parents often choose to talk about their children’s options with an attorney who is familiar with Washington juvenile law.