Local

Armed robberies in Woodinville, Redmond may be connected; 3 suspects arrested, 1 at large

WOODINVILLE, Wash. — A search is underway for a suspect who got away after robbing a store in the heart of downtown Woodinville early Thursday. Three others were arrested.

Police are investigating whether the Woodinville robbery is connected to a robbery at a 76 Gas Station on Redmond Way that happened at 2:25 a.m.

According to the King County Sheriff’s Office, four suspects held up a 7-Eleven at 13923 Northeast 175th Street in Woodinville near the AMC theater.

At 2:46 a.m., before the clerk could call 911, a King County deputy saw the robbers coming out of the store with cash and cigarettes, Woodinville Police Chief B.J. Myers told KIRO 7.

Two suspects were immediately taken into custody, but two ran away. The third suspect was found and arrested shortly after, but a fourth is still at large.

A weapon was recovered from one of the suspects.

Meyers said the King County Air Support Guardian One helicopter, several K-9s, and drones were used to search for the suspect.

No one was hurt during the robbery and arrests.

“I’m thankful that when the suspects came out, that their inclination was to run, and not do something else. Certainly with them being armed this could’ve turned out a lot worse,” said Meyers.

Police combed through a blue SUV that the suspects arrived in. It was stolen out of Tukwila around 1 a.m.

The couple who owns the car showed up at the scene and says this is all unfolding just days before their wedding.

“I get a call at three in the morning saying, ‘Do you know where your car is?’ We’re on our way up to our wedding rehearsal this afternoon because our wedding is Sunday,” said Crystal Weast.

The Olympia couple says the car was full of wedding decorations.

“A cake topper, the guestlist, table clothes, shoes, all our table décor stuff, all of our decorations,” said Weast.

The couple says the car has a lot of damage.

“They broke the window, the ignition is just completely shattered, I don’t know how we’re going to fix it,” said Weast.

As for the couple, they are trying to remain calm as they head to Mount Vernon for their big day.

“It’s not fun, and we have each other, and we have what we need, but items that were irreplaceable were stolen. We’re hoping that somebody can find them and get them to us before our wedding,” said Weast.