First Appearance in 3rd & Pine Homicide Case
The suspect in the Feb. 27 Seattle homicide near 3rd and Pine was on today’s felony first appearance for the 3rd and Pine investigation and for another case: unlawful gun possession related to his arrest.
- In the 3rd and Pine case, a judge found probable cause for Murder in the Second Degree and Unlawful Possession of a Firearm in the First Degree.
- In the gun case related to his arrest, the first appearance judge found probable cause for eight counts of Unlawful Possession of a Firearm in the First Degree.
The suspect refused his court appearance this afternoon. Because he refused his court appearance, bail was not addressed by a judge. He remains in the King County Jail.
Prosecutors have not yet received from police the documents required by law for a felony charging decision in the 3rd and Pine case (or the second gun case related to his arrest). However, we expect to receive those documents later this week for an immediate review when received. (Cases are typically sent by police after first appearance hearings, and first appearance documents are different than what’s needed for a felony charge.)
Prior to yesterday’s, the suspect was already charged in a separate felony case handled by the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office and the subject of a warrant request in that case. That was an armed Jan. 21 marijuana shop robbery investigated by Lake Forest Park police.
In that case, the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office filed charges of Robbery in the First Degree. The case was referred to us by police on March 9, and it was filed with a warrant request on March 14. The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office requested the warrant and bail amount be set at $300,000. It was reduced by a judge to $100,000 the following day.
The individual in this case has two prior robbery convictions handled by the Pierce County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, and he was on active DOC supervision at the time of his arrest.
His next court appearance is an arraignment in the marijuana shop robbery case. An arraignment is where a plea is entered. That’s scheduled for March 28.
A robbery case has not been sent to us at this point — it is still with law enforcement — but we’ll review it immediately if/when it’s referred.
