17-year-old murder suspect: Kaylynn Voegele's death was an ‘accident'

BURIEN, Wash. — The attorney for a 17-year-old Seattle boy suspected of killing a 17-year-old Burien girl claims her death was an accident, and asked for his client to be released from jail.

The boy, a student at Southlake High School, appeared in court Friday afternoon at the Juvenile Detention Facility in Seattle, where Judge Regina Cahan found probable cause to hold the teenager on suspicion of second-degree murder.

According to court documents, the 17-year-old was playing with a gun late Wednesday night when he pointed the weapon at Kaylynn Voegele outside a Burien apartment.

Voegele, a junior at Mount Rainier High School in Burien, told the suspect she wasn't afraid, according to a witness.

Investigators say the suspect fired the gun once.

Moments later the girl was dead.

Voegele's grandmother made an impassioned plea after the court session.  “These guns are tearing up these lives and it’s unnecessary,” JoJo Pierce told KIRO 7.  “Look at us.  We’re all broken, and we’re all hurt.  For what?  Why did you bring a gun there anyway?  Were you planning this or what?”

Pierce said her granddaughter met the suspect on Facebook.

His grandfather expressed his condolences for Voegele’s loved ones and said both families are hurting because of senseless gun violence.  “Whatever happened, I know deep down inside he feels very, very bad,” Maurice Hunter said after court.  “I don’t believe it was intentional. Anyone playing with a firearm, it’s wrong.  This is something that has to stop.”

Neither Pierce nor Hunter knew how the suspect got the weapon.

The King County deputy prosecuting attorney who handled Friday’s detention hearing told Judge Cahan she expects the suspect will be charged as an adult early next week.

Cox Media Group