Prosecutors charge 2 teens linked to more than 70 thefts in King County

KING COUNTY, Washington. – A 16-year-old and an 18-year-old accused of committing nearly 80 armed robberies in King County have been formally charged.

Seattle city leaders announced Friday, Oct. 11, that four male teenagers had been arrested as part of a crime spree that included at least 78 cases. They were allegedly involved in several armed robberies, shootings, carjackings and other violent incidents, 22 of which occurred in Seattle alone.

The teenagers are aged 18, 15 and two of them were 16 years old. Investigators said the criminal gang leader was so emboldened that he asked police to quickly arrest him so he could get out of jail by the weekend.

On Tuesday, the King County Prosecutor’s Office said two of the four teens had been charged because they are still awaiting a dismissal of the case for one of the 16-year-olds, and the 15-year-old is detained under an arrest warrant.

The 18-year-old man, identified as John Bailey-Johnson, is charged with first-degree robbery, theft of a motor vehicle and first-degree unlawful possession of a firearm. He is being held on $350,000 bail and is scheduled to appear in court on October 28.

A 16-year-old suspect is charged with two counts of first-degree robbery and second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm. His arraignment is scheduled for October 16.

King County prosecutors say the police investigation into the teens’ cases is ongoing, so they only charged the two teens based on the cases presented to them.

Specifically, Bailey-Johnson is accused of armed carjacking at a Bellevue apartment complex. The 16-year-old is accused of helping Bailey-Johnson in the carjacking, as well as robbing a Circle K in Seattle.

In the Bellevue robbery, court documents say the teens robbed two victims at gunpoint, taking their car, money and personal items. Police received reports of a robbery and attempted carjacking at Factoria Mall in Bellevue prior to the crime.

Police said that through surveillance cameras at Nordstrom Rack, Bailey-Johnson and the 16-year-old were seen in the store. Using this information, Bellevue Police were able to track the suspects to the area and SWAT eventually arrested them on State Route 18.

Bailey-Johnson has been arrested seven times in the past two years, including for possession of a stolen vehicle, grand larceny and possession of stolen property.

The 16-year-old suspect allegedly robbed a Circle K convenience store on 12th Avenue in Seattle, near Seattle University. This happened on October 4.

Court documents say the teen pulled out a black handgun upon entering the store, stole customers’ wallets and stole $100 from the cash register within a minute.

The 15 and 16 year olds could face charges at a later date, and additional charges are possible for the two suspects who have already been charged.

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