Police: Gunmen robbing middle-school students in West Seattle
SEATTLE -- Teens armed with guns robbed nine middle-school students while they hung out at Roxhill Park in West Seattle in two separate incidents this week, according to the Seattle Police Department.
According to police, four middle-school students were at the park near 27th Avenue Southwest and Southwest Cambridge Street around 6:30 p.m. Sunday when two men with a shotgun told them to hand over their wallets and cellphones.
The man with the shotgun hit two of the students in the head with the butt of the gun before he and the other robber ran off through the park, according to police.
On Tuesday, two men with handguns and bandannas over their faces told a group of five middle-school students in the park to get on the ground, according to police.
According to police, the robbers made off with cellphones and cash.
Robin Ozuna lives across the street from the park and said it's a haven for problems.
"I could see (crimes) happening here, because it's a prime area for it," she said. "I think there's too many young kids over there partying and drinking and carousing at night"
The victims in both incidents told officers the robbers are between 16 and 17 years old.
The principal of Denny International Middle School says they've been told a Seattle Police detective has been assigned to the case. The school is also contacting all students' families to remind them of safety recommendations including making sure they are not walking alone.
Kirsten Soderstrom walks through the park and said even with recently playground construction, it just isn't safe any more.
"Bottom line, it's uncomfortable and just real disturbing," she said.
Seattle Public Schools says it will be sending a note home to all students who attend school in the area about the robberies.
If they are taking cell phones, can't they be track somehow? I am sure one of the cell phones would be able to be with all the parents that run out and pay $$$ to have their child have the best in school.Â
Its rather interesting that since Obama got re-elected and has started his gun control spiel, that gun crimes are increaseing. Funny how that works......
Interesting how every single BAD gun story hits the news, but the ones where someone successfully uses one for self defense, or to ward off a criminal don't. Coincidence?
 @Harley-H.S.C. You must've missed these:
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http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Violent-home-intruder-shot-and-killed-in-North-Bend-145392585.html
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http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Tacoma-homeowner-shoots-intruder-trying-to-break-down-door-162467966.html
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http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Police-Vancouver-Wash-homeowner-shoots-kills-intruder-167430645.html
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http://www.komonews.com/news/national/14-year-old-Phoenix-boy-shoots-armed-intruder-160123415.html
At 6:30 the brats should have been home helping with chores or doing homework. Â Fresh meat.
Great.
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Guess we should arm teenagers now too, right? If you follow the NRA logic that would be the solution to the problem, right? Isn't their solution to gun violence more guns? Or am I wrong about that?
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And if I'm wrong, will someone PLEASE educate me what the NRA says about this then...Doesn't the 2nd Amendment apply to teenagers?
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Plus, if the NRA suggests another solution to teens with guns, then tell me why that solution doesn't work with adults... I'm trying to learn here, really.
 @DrugFighter How about not hanging out and doing something useful? Teens are easy pickings nowadays, especially when they live in their phones. Mommy and Daddy need to engage their children instead of letting gadgets babysit them Teach your kids about situational awareness. Teach them HOW to avoid becoming a victim.
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As for adults? Well, see above ^^^
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The 2nd Amendment applies to all Americans. It is the government that has places certain restrictions on legal age of possession, etc.
 @Bornhere Great idea, they ARE easy pickin's. Bored to death because no one SHOWS them what to do.
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"It is the government that has placed certain restrictions on legal age of possession, etc."
EXACTLY MY POINT. The 2nd applies to ALL Americans. Nowhere does it say "the right of the people ABOVE A CERTAIN AGE to keep and bear Arms"
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How is it that it's OK to infringe on the rights of young Americans (telling them they can't carry guns) but not to limit guns to only LEOs?
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Playing devil's advocate here - that should be clear. I'm not suggesting that teenagers should be armed but questioning why it's OK to deny them arms while not others.
 @DrugFighter There was a time not too long ago when it was normal for teenagers to be armed. Nearly every pickup in the school parking lot had a rifle in the rack. Children were taught early on, how to be safe around guns and how to shoot. The firearm was respected, not feared.
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Fast forward to the present. We have people literally freaking out over a paper gun! People have said that carrying a gun is insane. I say, the irrational fear of an inanimate object is insane.
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The guns are still functionally the same as back then. Pull the trigger, fire a bullet. What has changed is OUR perception. Ask yourselfs how that happened, and why. Take a deep, serious look. It is an eye opener.
@DrugFighter  the perps with the shotgun have it illegally(stolen most likely). Anyone under 21 can't own/carry a weapon concealed legally. The NRA has ALWAYS suggested we enforce the EXISTING laws. Read RCW 9.41.040: sometime. It will teach you all you need to know.
 @BuffaloBull Might want to check your "over/under" ^^^
 @BuffaloBull I might wanna check my glasses... NVM
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 @DrugFighter FIRST be armed with a brain - have a purpose.
 @contraryjim Check.
But that doesn't anwwer my question.
We just need more armed guards in our parks. I suggest a pattern of armed guards every 50 sq ft just to be safe. Think of the kids people.   Â
 @lakeview Gun towers...
 @lakeview </sarc>
Hey Wally, dontcha think that if some kids were robbed Sunday night in a park by bandits that the public would've been notified so the other kids didn't get robbed? Gosh Beave, sure makes sense to me.
@ReallyRUSerious -Publishing info you CAN use isn't the media's strong point. Neither is 'making sense'.
Middle school students would be to young to arm but maybe we can get a bunch of armed adult midgets to hang out at the park as bait. I'm sure the our young thugs will be back.
 @Ankle Biter Sure nice that the city wants more taxpayer $$ for parks.
Hmm I am a parent of a middle school student and it would be a cold day in hell before I let them hang out in a park with a wad of cash and  spendy cell phone in a park in Seattle.Â
 @justsaying Amen to that! THANK YOU!
 @justsaying justsaying - the only smart comment here.
Awesome folk. Some real intervention called for here. An no, middle school students should not be armed NRA.
 @Citizen#3457899654 "middle school students should not be armed NRA."
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Find anywhere that the NRA has proposed such a thing. Or just be known as a lying troll.
 @Iconoclast Troll is restless. Just ignore it.
You are a washington law expert. If caught they will be out in 2 yrs to continue till an armed citizen puts an end to them with lead poisoning.
The NRA says these middle-school students should have been armed.
 @KOMO_Sapiens You are a liar. Only thing lower in my book is a child molester.
 @KOMO_Sapiens Everyone on this board says you should pull your head out of your rear end.
 @KOMO_Sapiens troll
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@Alaska316 @KOMO_Sapiens Actually not a troll. They are simply pointing out the rhetoric of the far right.
 @Citizen#3457899654 You are a waste of bandwidth and oxygen.
 @lakeview It's funny because you are spouting utter nonsense as well. Is that inevitable when one becomes a progressive moonbat?
 @Iconoclast  @Citizen#3457899654 And you guys got trolled because you responded. I think it's funny because if you asked the NRA bosses this, they would probably dance around the issue and never rule out arming middle school kids.Â
 @Citizen#3457899654 And another troll contributes utter nonsense.
 @Citizen#3457899654 He is a troll. The NRA does not endorse the arming of children. It does endorse safe gun handling skills which includes adult supervision.
 @Citizen#3457899654  @Alaska316  @KOMO_Sapiens I've seen the NRA call for armed guards in / at schools. I've seen others called for armed teachers. I've seen no-one but left-wing trolls calling for armed kids. If you think otherwise, please link us to the source documents / press release.
And the city thought that putting a park in BELLTOWN would be beneficial? LOLOL This is a perfect example why it is such a stupid idea.
 @NRasmussen Gotta have someplace to hide the needles.
Maybe we can give them a light sentence so they can acquire more felonies and possibly kill someone. That seems to be the norm.
I hope they get these pieces of crappola before they hurt anyone else. Now, where are the descriptions? Did the students that were robbed know these jerk offs? Hopefully the traces can be done on the cellphones and they can catch them pretty quick.
Better get these guys before they kill someone if they haven't already.
Practice at range carry fully loaded daily and see if the scum attempt to beat you with the butt of the gun. Unlikey if your rounds hit the target.
Once again can we get a description? and once again can being a badass stop being glorified? This is why youth now a days are completely out of control.
@tkyed KOMO "accidentally" left out the race....
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"Victims in both cases were only able to provide vague descriptions of the suspects: black males, between 16 and 17 years old."
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http://spdblotter.seattle.gov/2013/01/23/gunmen-take-cash-cell-phones-from-middle-schoolers-in-two-roxhill-park-robberies/
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 @dylandawgie  @tkyed It's no accident. It is apparently KOMO policy to exclude identifying characteristics of suspects that are a danger to the community if they are minorities (not always, but mostly). This has been going on for years and is the subject of much ridicule by commenters of all stripes.
@Getov Mylon @dylandawgie unfortunately I already assumed that!!
 @dylandawgie  @tkyed Update: The suspects were identified as black yutes on the 11 PM newscast.
 @tkyed The only description the police have is black and 16 to 17 years old.Â
 @tkyed There is a description. Bandanna's and 16-17. I know right? I am sure the kids got more info then that.Â