Teens detained in West Seattle park robberies

SEATTLE — Police booked one teenager and briefly detained seven others in connection with the robberies targeting middle school students who frequent Roxhill Park in West Seattle.

According to police, the first robbery happened Sunday when robbers told the middle school students to hand over their wallets and cellphones at Roxhill Park.

Then on Tuesday afternoon, teens walked up to a group of middle school students, pulled out handguns and fled the scene after stealing cellphones and wallets from the victims.

Neighbors told KIRO 7 Eyewitness News reporter Deborah Horne that they saw teens detained at the park Friday.

“I saw a bunch of kids on the ground in the parking lot in the park,” said a neighbor. “There were so many cop cars and the kids on the ground were obviously teenagers. They were very young. They looked like they were 16.”

Seattle police said the teenagers were 14 to 18 years old.

Miguel Rodriguez, 11, said it happened to one of his 6^th grade classmates at nearby Denny International Middle School.

“He said they that the guys were wearing masks,” said Miguel. “He said they asked him for his money and for his phone, but he only had like $5 and then he started running away.”

According to police, they believe eight people detained Friday are involved.

“I hope this helps clear up some of the uneasiness that has been going on, but I do think they need to increase their security around here,” said a neighbor.

One of the teenagers detained was booked into the King County Jail on a weapons charged, and the others were released.

Police will continue to investigate.

KIRO