Update Dec. 23 10:15am
On Monday, the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office charged two 15-year-olds with unlawful gun possession related to last week’s lockdown at Evergreen High School (in unincorporated King County, south of West Seattle).
When there is a gun at school, those cases go through the courts with traditional prosecution.
Both of the 15-year-olds are charged with Unlawful Possession of a Firearm in the Second Degree and Unlawful Possession of a Dangerous Weapon.
King County prosecutors asked at the first appearance for both to be held in secure detention. The court – after hearing from prosecutors, defense, juvenile probation counselors, and family – ordered the two 15-year-olds to electronic home detention with conditions, including no unauthorized contact with Evergreen High School and that they stay in touch with their juvenile probation counselors.
The next court hearings for both are arraignment hearing at 1:30 p.m. today at the Clark Child and Family Justice Center in Seattle. Respondents are innocent until proven guilty in court.
Update Dec. 18 6:15pm
Both the 15 year olds taken into custody after guns were found at Evergreen High School on Wednesday, had a first appearance hearing this afternoon at the Clark Child and Family Justice Center in Seattle. King County prosecutors noted the serious community safety concerns and asked for both to be held in secure detention.
The court – after hearing from prosecutors, defense, juvenile probation counselors, and family – ordered the two 15-year-olds to electronic home detention with conditions, including no unauthorized contact with Evergreen High School and that they stay in touch with their juvenile probation counselors.
Probable cause was found by the first appearance judge for their arrests. However, under court rules and state law regarding Juvenile Court, there is not a public first appearance narrative the same way there is in adult cases.
Monday, Dec. 22, is the date set by the court for a rush file charging decision. Right now, the case has not been referred by Sheriff’s Office investigators to the KCPAO, but that’s normal – in all types of cases, juvenile or adult, the case referral usually comes in the days after a first appearance hearing and close to the rush-file charging deadline.
No previous cases involving the teens have been referred to the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.
Original Post 12:26pm Dec. 17
Evergreen High School in White Center was placed under a three-hour lockdown Wednesday morning after staff were alerted to a report of weapons on campus.
Deputies from the King County Sheriff’s Office responded to the high school around 9 a.m., shortly after the lockdown began. The incident started when a concerned student flagged staff about a weapon. King County Sheriff spokesperson Brandyn Hull noted that authorities take any report of weapons in a school very seriously, adding that students also want to feel safe at school, as they should.
During the response, deputies searched the school grounds and ultimately recovered two weapons. The lockdown was lifted following the subsequent arrests.
Three students were taken into custody in connection with the incident. While one student was released back to the school, two others were booked into a juvenile facility. Authorities confirmed that no injuries were reported in connection with the incident.
The lockdown shook up students and parents.
Sheriff spokesperson Hull mentioned that while police resources were stretched thin due to crews helping with weather response—specifically the marine unit and air support, public safety duties continue as regular police business. Evergreen Senior High School, while under the emergency, posted a message on its website advising: “Do not call or come to the school,” as students and staff were following emergency procedures.
