DES MOINES, Wash. — It was a rude beginning to this Monday at Pacific Middle School in the Highline School District. Des Moines police officers showed up to arrest a student in connection with a murder.
"This young man is 13 years old and he was connected to the homicide involving David Phelps," says Des Moines police Master Sgt. Doug Jenkins.
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He says the 13-year-old is one of three teens in custody in the murder of 41-year-old Carl David Phelps.
"Think back on when you were 13 and what you were doing," said Sgt. Jenkins. "And I think that's why it's so hard for anybody to comprehend this entire case. Because the people that are involved are 13, 14 and 15."
There is a memorial to Phelps outside the Des Moines apartment where the deadly shooting happened on May 6.
Police say Phelps made a joke about swapping a child for a bicycle. The teens immediately concluded he was a child molester and got into an altercation.
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The 15-year-old has been charged with actually shooting Phelps; the 14-year-old, with burglary and car theft. As for the 13-year-old?
"He had knowledge or participated in the burglary where the firearm that was used in the homicide was stolen from the residence here in Des Moines," said Sgt. Jenkins. "He was also connected to the stolen car that ended up being the getaway car the afternoon of the homicide."
The King County prosecutor wants to try the 15-year-old as an adult. The hearing that will determine that is set for next month.
Des Moines police say they are not done investigating this case. So there could be still more arrests.
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