A burst of high-profile crimes committed by juveniles continue to strike Kent in June and July.
Kent Police Chief Rafael Padilla, in a June 18 report to the City Council, noted juvenile crime numbers had skyrocketed from 2021 to 2023. He said the numbers were up in King County as well.
“Unfortunately, we are seeing a steady increase over two years in juvenile crime,” Padilla said.
From 2021 to 2023, assault with a firearm in Kent jumped 221% (from 23 cases in 2021 to 74 cases in 2023). Robberies were up 153% (from 66 to 167). Vehicles thefts increased 151% (from 45 to 113). Homicides were up 100% (from 0 to 4).
The following six incidents during a five-week period indicates juvenile crime (under the age of 18) continues to rock Kent:
July 16: Fatal shooting
• As of July 18, no arrests had been made but teens were seen running from a park after a 13-year-old boy was fatally shot July 16 on the East Hill.
Officers were dispatched at about 9:04 p.m. to an apartment complex in the 22400 block of Benson Road SE in response to 911 calls that a male had been shot, according to a July 16 Kent Police news release. Witnesses reported the boy had been shot in the abdomen and was on the sidewalk.
Multiple 911 callers and witnesses reported that the shooting had occurred at Turnkey Park, 23300 100th Ave. SE, according to police. Witnesses said that a group of young males had fled on foot following the shooting. Officers investigated this area and determined that the boy had been shot near the park, then transported to the apartment complex by another party. The park and the apartment complex are about 1 mile apart.
July 13: Vehicular homicide
• Kent Police are looking for a male teen driver who reportedly was driving a stolen vehicle when he crashed into another vehicle whose driver later died from injuries suffered in the collision.
Officers were dispatched at about 11:35 p.m. July 13 to a report of a recently stolen vehicle spotted in the 23000 block of 100th Avenue SE, according to a July 16 Kent Police news release. The owner of the vehicle called 911 to report she had found her Hyundai Sonata in a nearby apartment complex and it was occupied with two people.
June 28: DUI, eluding
• Kent Police arrested a 14-year-old Kent boy for investigation of DUI, eluding, resisting and obstructing after a recent late-night incident that included pursuit by the King County Sheriff’s office helicopter.
An officer, working a DUI/distracted driving emphasis, saw a vehicle at about 11:20 p.m. June 28 failing to stop at a stop sign on West Meeker Street, according to a July 1 Kent Police social media post and an email from Kent Police Assistant Chief Jarod Kasner.
June 22: Weapons violation
• Kent Police arrested a 16-year-old Kent boy on the East Hill for investigation of a weapons violation and possession of a stolen vehicle.
At about 7:21 p.m. June 22, officers were notified about a stolen vehicle in the area of 10100 SE 258th Street, according to a June 25 Kent Police news release. The vehicle, a 2019 Honda Accord, reportedly had been carjacked at gunpoint in Des Moines two days prior.
June 17: Vehicular assault
• Kent Police arrested a 16-year-old Kent boy for investigation of vehicular assault and theft of a motor vehicle after he reportedly crashed the car into two other vehicles, injuring himself and three other people, two of them critically.
Officers responded at about 9:08 p.m. June 17 to the 12900 block of SE Kent-Kangley Road on the East Hill to search for a recently stolen vehicle, according to a Tuesday, June 18 Kent Police news release.
June 12: Firearm at school
• Kent Police arrested a 17-year-old Kentridge High School student for investigation of unlawful possession of a firearm and fourth-degree assault after he reportedly had a gun on campus.
Another student reported that the student had a gun to Kent School District security officers at the school, according to an email from Kasner, a Kent Police assistant chief. A handgun was found on the male suspect. Officers arrested the boy and booked him into juvenile detention at the Patricia H. Clark Children and Family Justice Center in Seattle.
King County cases way up
The number of juvenile crime cases, compiled by the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, greatly increased from 2021 to 2023.
A total of 2,178 cases were received by prosecutors in 2023 compared to 1,144 in 2021, a jump of 90%, according to the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office website dashboard. Cases actually filed were 683 in 2023 compared to 339 in 2021, a hike of 101%. Cases diverted were 874 compared to 439, a jump of 99%.
So far through May 2024, 1,047 cases have been referred by law enforcement agencies, on pace to exceed the number of cases in 2023.
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