There, she partnered with the city to put on a resource fair for federal workers who have been impacted by the government shutdown.

“I was thrilled to be able to propose this to the City of Seattle, and today is all about providing federal workers with as many resources as we can,” Jayapal said.

More than 100 people came in the first 45 minutes of the fair.

“I was able to stockpile some food, so I have a little bit to get me by. I have rent for November. If this continues, I may not have rent for December,” furloughed federal contractor Alison Jowers said.

Some were worried, depressed, and anxious about the near-term future for their families.

“It’s not easy not knowing if the Department of Defense is going to pay service members. I will have to shoulder all of our bills — two car payments, a mortgage in Georgia, rent in Seattle, groceries for both places. And, it’s going to be tight,” Caressa, who lives in Seattle while her husband serves in the military in Georgia, said.

Impacted workers were offered help and support for things like food, rental and mortgage assistance, as well as information about transportation, and help with utilities.

“We want to support our customers through these uncertain times as they navigate financial challenges. Our customer care team is prepared to work with anyone impacted so they don’t have to worry about their utility bills while waiting for their paychecks,” Andrew Lee, General Manager and CEO of Seattle Public Utilities, said.

Several organizations participate in Seattle resource fair

A number of community and government partners participated, including Seattle City Light.

“We know that in times of financial uncertainty, it can be hard to ask for assistance. We want customers to know that there are options available for everyone, and we want to help,” Dawn Lindell, General Manager and CEO of Seattle City Light, said.

Other agencies and organizations participating were Seattle Public Utilities, Food Lifeline, BECU, Essentials First, United Way of King County, Washington State Employment Security Department, and Workforce Development Council of Seattle – King County.

“The City of Seattle cares deeply about our residents and communities, especially those facing hardship because of the federal shutdown,” Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell said. “We also know affordability pressures are real for many families across our city. That’s why we’re connecting federal workers and people of all occupations to resources they can use right now.”

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“We generally see about 82,000 people per month, and move about 1.9 million pounds of food,” Andrea Blue, the president of Eloise’s Cooking Pot Food Bank in Tacoma, said. “We’ve already surpassed that. We believe we will be over 100,000 people this month, and more than 2.5 million pounds of food.”

Eloise’s Cook Pot Food Bank sponsored a pop-up food distribution event. She expected to see about 400 cars, but more than 800 cars showed up, and they keep coming.

“They’ve driven across other counties, from Olympia, from Kitsap County, from Seattle, to come get food at this distribution,” Blue said.

Many of the people here are already on food assistance programs. For others, this is their family’s first time of need. Many feel left out and forgotten.

“Why should we pay millions of dollars to support all these other countries when our country needs it? Our homeless need it. Our veterans need it. You got all these people here who need food,” Erica Smith, a parent, said. “I work two jobs and can barely even afford to put food on my table, so it’s pretty bad.”

Each car receives a box containing nine meals, along with some fresh produce, including celery, lettuce, butternut squash, chicken, potatoes, and onions. They also get a home cleaning product.

Eloise’s also providing aid to JBLM

Eloise’s Cooking Pot Food Bank also has a team at Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM) to provide food for the families of military personnel who are currently working without pay due to the ongoing government shutdown.

“This don’t make no sense,” Ernestine Wiggins, another parent, said. “Everything is going to be out of control next month, and I hate to see it.”

Eloise’s Cooking Pot Food Bank aims to continue delivering as long as there is a need, and Blue says help is welcome. They need volunteers to hand out food and donations to make sure they have enough to fill the need for as long as it’s needed.

If you’d like to volunteer or donate, call Eloise’s Cooking Pot Food Bank in Tacoma.

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Day 28 also marks a very significant day for air traffic controllers, who are working their first day without pay. Off-duty air traffic controllers, at airports all over the country, including here in Seattle, spent the day handing out informational pamphlets.

At the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), they stood in three different skybridges, handing out pamphlets and talking to travelers about the strain air traffic controllers are feeling about working without pay, and the potential consequences of having such critical workers working for free.

“How am I going to pay my bills? How am I going to put food on the table? How am I going to pay for gas to go to work where I’m going to get a zero-dollar paycheck?” National Air Traffic Controllers Association Regional Vice President Mark Rausch said.

Air traffic controllers are working mandatory overtime, so, no time during the day to work a second job to make ends meet. Workers are calling in sick while flights are being canceled or delayed.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and the president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, Nick Daniels, have continued to emphasize the pressure that controllers are feeling. They told The Associated Press the problems are likely to only get worse the longer the shutdown continues.

“Air traffic controllers have to have 100% focus 100% of the time,” Daniels said Tuesday at a news conference alongside Duffy at LaGuardia Airport in New York. “I’m watching air traffic controllers going to work. I’m getting the stories. They’re worried about paying for their daughter’s medicine. I got a message from a controller that said, ‘I’m running out of money. And if she doesn’t get the medicine she needs, she dies. That’s the end.'”

“I think the message is simple. Let’s end the shutdown now,” Mark Rausch said. “We can’t expect people to do an honest day’s work and not get an honest day’s pay.”

Rausch said, in spite of the sick call-ins and delayed and canceled flights, not much has changed since before the shutdown. There was a shortage of controllers, long hours, and a lot of stress on the people who keep us safe in the air.

“You’re flying from Seattle, let’s say you’re going all the way to New York. The entire trip, your aircraft is in constant communication with air traffic controllers that aren’t being paid,” Rausch said. “Stopping funding and stopping paying air traffic controllers certainly doesn’t provide additional safety. It’s just going to add that additional distraction and introduce risk.”

Contributing: The Associated Press

Officers arrived within five minutes and found the man engulfed in flames, running down the alley.

“They yelled for him to stop, asked for him to stop, drop and roll. He continued running, and officers ran toward him with a fire extinguisher, and they put him out,” said Seattle Police Detective Eric Munoz.

Seattle man saved after accidentally catching fire in alley

The man was taken to Harborview Medical Center in serious condition. He has second-degree burns over a large portion of his body.

Investigators later determined the man had accidentally set himself on fire.

“Officers collected video footage nearby, and they found that the man fell asleep near a makeshift fire which, unfortunately, rapidly spread to his clothing and engulfed him in flames,” Detective Munoz said.

First responders said the man would likely have died if not for the quick actions of the Seattle police officers, who arrived promptly and used a fire extinguisher to save his life.

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Pierce County Major Chad Dickerson was charged Wednesday with two counts of vehicular assault-DUI for the July crash where the Washington State Patrol (WSP) said Dickerson failed to yield the right-of-way and injured a family of six, including three children and a pregnant woman.

Pierce County deputies did not turn on bodycams, court documents indicate

Court documents indicate some of the deputies failed to activate or turned off their body-worn cameras while at the scene.

Swank said that should not have happened, and he will issue new information that all deputies should always activate their cameras when they are working a scene, no matter who is involved.

“It doesn’t matter if it’s the sheriff or the undersheriff, or the mayor, or the executive, or the governor, or the president, you’ll have your body camera on,” Swank said.

WSP handled the investigation, and Swank said he has intentionally stayed away from the case to avoid any perception of impropriety.

He said it wasn’t until he received the court charging documents Wednesday that he learned what had happened.

“As soon as I received this document and reviewed it, and the undersheriff reviewed it, and we opened an investigation into all the conduct of the deputies involved at the scene that day,” Swank said.

Swank didn’t say how long the investigation will take, or what, if any, disciplinary action might be taken.

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Under the agreement, police officers will receive a retroactive pay increase of 6% for 2024 and 4.1% for 2025. Officers will get an additional 2.7% increase in 2026, and the 2027 increase will range from 3% to 4%, depending on the Consumer Price Index.

“This contract supports our officers’ work to address crime and delivers on our promise to create a comprehensive, diversified public safety system that protects every neighborhood in Seattle,” Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell said.

Harrell said the contract also strengthens police accountability by allowing civilian investigators to work on cases involving potential termination, and streamlines disciplinary processes to address misconduct swiftly and appropriately.

“The agreement modernizes our wages and keeps benefits high so that we can, of course, maintain a well-staffed police department, which translates to public safety for everyone,” Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes said. “I commend Mayor Harrell for his tireless dedication in securing a collective bargaining agreement that not only strengthens support for our officers but also enhances public safety in Seattle. This agreement reflects our shared commitment to the community and ensures that the brave men and women of our police department can continue to serve with pride and dedication.”

Major changes for Seattle’s CARE department

The agreement was ratified by SPOG members last weekend and makes big changes to the Community Assisted Response and Engagement (CARE) department. It is now elevated from a pilot program started in 2023 to a permanent part of public safety in Seattle, on par with the police and fire departments. It also removes limits on its number of employees, allowing for the expansion and direct dispatch of CARE crisis responders for those experiencing a behavioral health crisis, due in part to homelessness, mental illness, and addiction.

“This expanded agreement between the City and SPOG is the most significant milestone since the CARE responder pilot launched two years ago, and I commend Mayor Harrell for keeping diversified response a top and unequivocal priority,” CARE Chief Amy Barton stated. “Going forward, we will finally be able to predictably and consistently send the best first response to a 911 call — something our community has demanded and deserves. Further, law enforcement officers can now be significantly freed up to respond to high-priority police calls.”

Harrell said the money for the officers and the expansion of the CARE department will require no new money, as it has already been worked into the budget.

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Kitsap County prosecutors said deputies found the couple passed out in the stolen car with their seven children inside.

“Two of them are just sitting on their parents’ laps. The other five are crammed in the back seat. There’s no car seats. The children weren’t properly clothed. Some of them were just in diapers. Didn’t have shoes on,” prosecutors said in court.

Bail was set at $100,000 for the mother and $500,000 for the father, who may also face charges of attempted murder in Clallam County. The seven children are in protective custody.

DoorDash driver carjacked near Sequim

Earlier this week, a good Samaritan picked up the family and paid a huge price for his kindness.

The 69-year-old was delivering for DoorDash when he saw a family walking along Highway 101 near Sequim. Deputies said he stopped to help and gave the family a ride, but within minutes, witnesses in a car behind them saw a struggle inside the vehicle — then saw the man fall from the driver’s side door.

“All he knows was he stopped to pick up this family with the kids, and then he was beaten up and stabbed, and they stole his car,” Clallam County Undersheriff Lorraine Shore said. “He had suffered a wound to his neck. We don’t know if he was stabbed or his neck sliced, but, yeah, it was quite a lot of blood.

Deputies identified the family as Port Angeles residents who have seven children. The pair had been contacted twice earlier in the day — once during a disturbance in Sequim, and later when the father was arrested for reckless driving in Port Angeles before being released.

The man’s stolen car was entered into law enforcement databases as stolen.

Then, early Monday morning at approximately 4:57 a.m., the Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office reported locating the vehicle on a county roadway. Deputies found the vehicle parked in the middle of the road with its lights off. A significant amount of blood was found inside the driver’s seat area, and a bloody knife was recovered from the father’s pocket.

Parents arrested, children put in protective custody

Both parents were arrested for possession of a stolen vehicle and reckless endangerment – domestic violence. All seven children, ages 6 months to 9 years old, were taken into protective custody by law enforcement and referred to Child Protective Services for care and placement.

This story was originally published on October 20. It has been updated and republished.

Contributing: Katrina Guischard, KIRO Newsradio

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Batiste said lowering the limit would save lives.

“I’m hired to save lives and to make sure troopers out there are helping to do that. And that is another tool, a law, that will help them do so,” Batiste said on TVW’s Inside Olympia.

From 2017 to 2021, more than half of fatal crashes in Washington involved drivers impaired by drugs and/or alcohol.

Impaired drivers are more likely to speed, less able to react and control their vehicles, and less likely to wear seat belts, according to the Washington Traffic Safety Commission.

According to House Bill 2196 estimates, if implemented, the 0.05 limit could save more than 1,700 lives every year, and cut alcohol-related fatalities by 11.1%.

“The goal isn’t to arrest more DUIs. That’s not the goal. The goal is to educate and make people make conscientious decisions and choose not to drive under the influence,” Batiste said.

Utah is only state to lower BAC limit to 0.05

Currently, Utah is the only state in the country that has adopted the 0.05 limit. In the 12 months following its implementation, the state saw fatal crashes drop nearly 20%, serious injury crashes
drop more than 10%, and total crashes drop more than 9.5%.

Batiste said it’s time Washington follows Utah’s lead.

“We’re one of the only industrialized nations in the world who really doesn’t operate at an .05 level. Utah, who was the first state to take that challenge on, and they’ve seen nothing but success,” Batiste said.

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Officials said they learned of the threat after they were alerted to several social media posts threatening Sequim High School, with specific students being mentioned by name.

Teen arrested after threats to Sequim High School on social media

An anonymous user posted the threats, but police were able to track down the user, and they made an arrest yesterday.

“A 15-year-old student was determined to be the person of interest. In collaboration with the student’s parents, the individual was taken into custody on Sunday evening,” said Sequim Police Department Deputy Chief John Southard.

Parents learn of threat through social media

A lot of parents learned of the threat through social media on Sunday. Others said they found out during Monday morning drop-off, when they noticed an unusual police presence.

“A lot of parents kept their kids home, but I spoke with my child and decided she would attend class today, as there was apparently no ongoing threat,” a parent, who asked to remain anonymous, said.

Southard noted that as a precaution, police presence was increased in the area.

“It appears this student acted alone, and there have been no further threats. However, as a precautionary measure, the Sequim Police Department remains in heightened patrols in the vicinity of the school district,” Southard explained.

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Eleven people have been arrested so far, and seven more are being sought as the investigation continues.

Investigation into food stamp fraud

“People would get these cards for food, and they would sell the card and then get the money and go buy drugs,” Seattle Police Department (SPD) Detective Brian Pritchard said.

The suspects allegedly paid the sellers fifty cents on the dollar for EBT cards on the streets of the CID. They would then work with retailers, who police said were involved in the scheme, to turn the cards into cash.

“They would buy the card, then go to local businesses and use those cards to purchase items. They were working with the business. They would buy the items, then sell the items back,” Pritchard explained.

In some cases, Pritchard said the purchased items never left the store where they were purchased. In other instances, the goods would be sold to restaurants, businesses, and private individuals in King and Snohomish counties.

Officers found that crime ring members partnered up with drug traffickers to let them know who was paid in cash. Drug dealers then targeted those vulnerable individuals.

“Officers found that narcotics sellers were aware of the EBT schemes and that the addicted people now had cash on hand,” SPD Captain Garth Green said. “They [the drug dealers] would then be in the area selling narcotics to take advantage of the influx of cash.”

Investigators said those who sold their EBT cards are seen as victims, but he said they could still face accountability for selling their cards.

“That money could go to someone who really needs it. So, if this is someone who continues to do something like that, I’m sure they’re going to take a look at possibly disqualifying some of these people,” Pritchard said.

SPD partnered with the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office and the state Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) throughout the investigation.

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The fires started just after 12 a.m. Friday near 22nd Avenue S. and S. Hill Street in Seattle’s Mount Baker neighborhood. Investigators said fires were started in a home, a car, dumpsters, and on the sidewalk. The suspect was described as someone wearing dark clothing, according to SPD.

“The arsonist started setting fires around 22nd Ave S. and S. Hill Street, and then started to move southbound, setting fires,” SPD Detective Brian Pritchard told KIRO Newsradio.

The fires ended near S. Walden Street and Wetmore Avenue S. At least one home was targeted, but no injuries have been reported.

“They’re retracing the path of the fires, and they’re trying to find either business footage or citizens who are willing to give footage from their Ring cameras or whatever camera they might have,” Pritchard said. “We’d be happy to have it.”

Seattle Fire Department Marshall 5, an arson bomb squad, and a K9 unit with the King County Sheriff’s Office all responded to the crime scene.

If you have any video or information about these fires, call Seattle police or 911.

This is a developing story, check back for updates

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The incident occurred Monday night at her home near 64th Avenue S. and Waters Avenue S. in South Seattle.

Police said the woman was on the back porch of her home when a man approached and demanded her valuables. When she refused, she was repeatedly assaulted, then dragged into her garage, where the assault continued.

“The assault was pretty violent. The male severely injured the elderly woman’s hand,” said Seattle Police Department (SPD) Detective Brian Pritchard.

Multiple law enforcement agencies assist in the search

Seattle police, as well as officers from Burien and Tukwila, and the King County Sheriff’s Office, assisted in searching for the suspect. He’s a man in his 30s, and he has not yet been arrested.

“She thought the suspect was going to kill her. You know, to be 88 years old, although she was violently attacked, and she was seriously injured, she fought him off,” Detective Pritchard said.

The SPD Crime Scene Investigation Unit responded, and Robbery detectives are investigating the case.

Anyone with information is asked to call the SPD Violent Crimes Tip Line at 206-233-5000. Anonymous tips are accepted. Incident Number: 2025-300039

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A deputy spotted the stolen car just after 10 p.m. Monday, near Puyallup. The driver took off, but was stopped a short time later after officers performed a PIT maneuver. The driver and three others fled the vehicle on foot, but all were eventually caught.

“Twelve-year-old female, a 14-year-old male, and a 16-year-old female, all of whom appeared to be intoxicated and under the influence of a substance,” Pierce County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Carly Cappetto said.

Driver arrested following Pierce County chase

Investigators said the driver was intoxicated and admitted to using cocaine. He was arrested on investigation of possession of stolen property, DUI, and reckless endangerment.

“He was also booked for bribery since he did attempt to offer the Puyallup officer $10,000 if he let him go,” Cappetto said.

The teens were taken to Reimann Hall Juvenile Justice Center in Tacoma and later released into the custody of their parents.

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Seattle Police Department (SPD) officers were called to Broadway and East Pike just after 8 p.m. for shots fired.

“Patrol officers found a young man suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. They transported that young man to the Harborview Medical Center, where, unfortunately, that individual was pronounced deceased,” SPD Detective Eric Munoz said.

While investigating, a second victim, a 29-year-old bystander, arrived at the hospital with a gunshot wound to the leg. He is in serious, but stable, condition, as of this reporting.

Police said the shooter fled the scene, and they have no suspect or motive for the shooting, but investigators said it does appear the boy was the victim of a targeted attack.

“We know that the second victim was, in fact, a bystander, but with the information that I’ve received, it does not appear that the first victim was a bystander at all,” Munoz said.

Munoz said the street and nearby stores and restaurants were crowded with people when shots rang out. He said the outcome could have been a lot worse.

Capitol Hill shooting suspect(s) at large

So far, no arrests have been made as the suspect(s) fled the scene before police arrived. The shooting is currently under investigation.

If anyone has information, they are asked to call the SPD Violent Crimes Tip Line at 206-233-5000 and reference incident number: 2025-296222.

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The majority of the most dangerous stretches are along I-5, with the most dangerous 10-mile stretch between South 38th Street in Tacoma and State Route 18.

Washington State Patrol Trooper Kameron Watts explained there are several reasons why.

“It’s a busy area. It leads to the Port of Tacoma. There is a lot of semi-truck traffic. There is a copious amount of moving violations that are happening, by the hour, in this area [like speeding and aggressive driving]. It’s a high-traffic area. There’s usually construction in the area, and a lot of distracted driving,” Watts said.

From 2019 to 2023, that stretch of I-5 saw 22 fatal crashes and 25 fatalities.

“The agency [WSP] has invested more in our Target-Zero program so we can focus on this problem area that is seeing more of an influx of violations and fatalities, and collisions,” Watts said. “We’re going to be putting on patrols, and extra emphasis in the area, and just having more of a focus on this stretch of highway.

Most dangerous stretch of highway in King County on I-5

The deadliest 10-mile road stretch in King County is on I-5 from South Dearborn Street and Northeast 145th Street, with 20 fatal crashes and 20 fatalities. Other areas on the list include stretches of I-5 in Renton, Everett, and SeaTac.

WSP said it will focus on the behaviors that lead to fatal accidents.

“Our Target-Zero team has grown. We have more members on that team, where they’re focused on getting DUIs off the road and targeting aggressive drivers,” Watts said.

WSP also said every driver can do their part to make the roads safer by slowing down, giving other drivers room, not driving distracted, and not driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

The good news is traffic fatalities dropped all across Washington in 2024 and appear to be trending downward.

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Police were asked to do a welfare check on Richard Rowlett, 78, at his home. When police were finally able to contact Rowlett, they could see, in plain sight, many images of children engaged in child sexual abuse.

When they asked Rowlett, he allegedly told them he possessed large quantities of explicit material, both at his home and at a storage facility that he’s been collecting since the 1970s, tens of thousands of images. But Rowlett insisted he never acted on his fantasies, and he’s not a threat to anyone.

Rowlett was immediately placed into custody and booked into the King County Jail on two felony charges.

“One for possession of depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct and another for viewing those depictions,” Douglas Wagoner, spokesperson for the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, said.

Bellevue police seek potential Rowlett victims

Police want to know if Rowlett ever harmed any children. They ask anyone who thinks they may have been harmed, or if they know someone who might have been harmed by Rowlett, to call 911.

“The age of this individual, I think, is older than maybe we typically see. I certainly can’t remember someone of a similar age,” Wagoner said.

Rowlett is out of jail after posting $20,000 bail.

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Investigators said he is responsible for tens of thousands of dollars in damage and cleanup. He was arrested twice last year.

His tags can be seen all over—on private property, on public property, along roads and highways, all over Pierce County.

His name is Tony Lim, 46, and following his arrest last weekend, he’s expected to face misdemeanor and felony charges, including malicious mischief.

Prolific graffiti tagger causes over $30,000 in cleanup costs

“Total cost of cleanup, as of the date of arrest, was upwards of $32,000,” WSP Trooper Kameron Watts said.

Cleanup on public property is paid for by taxpayers. And it’s even more expensive when you consider private cleanup by private businesses and private citizens.

“When you’re talking public property, it’s public dollars that have to be spent in order to clean these messes up,” Watts said. “That’s money that could otherwise go to things that people care for.”

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The injury occurred on Aug. 29 when Masovaric was delivered to the door of the plane in a wheelchair, having her care turned over to the airline’s flight attendant. Aviation Attorney Mark Lindquist, formerly the Pierce County prosecutor, claimed that after helping the woman stand, the flight attendant got distracted and let go of Masovaric’s hand.

“She predictably fell and broke her leg. She needed surgery, which involved a nail, a rod, and screws. Her recovery has been long and painful,” attorney Mark Lindquist said. “Additionally, her leg fracture resulted in pain, prolonged suffering, mental anguish, physical therapy, substantial medical expenses, and caretaking expenses. Her daily life activities have been significantly limited for months.”

Lindquist stated that it was a preventable accident, and that Turkish Airlines is required by the Air Carrier Access Act to provide appropriate assistance and accommodations for the elderly and other passengers with mobility impairments. Turkish Airlines, Lindquist said, is liable for all injuries under the Montreal Convention. 

“For an elderly person, who is pushing 90, this has had a major impact on not only her health, but her life activities,” Lindquist said.

The suit, so far, seeks unspecified damages.

This is a developing story, check back for updates

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Pierce County deputies were called to Spanaway Lake High School just before 9:30 a.m. Investigators said the gun fell from the teen’s waistband, and another student turned him in. The school immediately went into lockdown, and deputies arrived about three minutes later.

“While trying to apprehend him, they got into a struggle, and while they were struggling with the student, the firearm falls out of his waistband,” Pierce County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Carly Cappetto said.

Deputies said the gun was loaded with eight rounds, was unregistered, and was clean in terms of any history. Cappetto described the gun as untraceable as a ghost gun.

“We probably, likely will never know where that gun came from and how it came into the hands of this juvenile,” she explained. “The charges that are moving forward with this juvenile for this morning is unlawful possession of a firearm, obstruction, and resisting arrest.”

Pierce County sees uptick in gun violations at schools

Fortunately, no one was injured. But the problem of kids bringing guns to school, this year in Pierce County, is described as extremely concerning. There have been four such incidents so far this school year.

“This school year is the most gun violations we’ve ever dealt with,” Cappetto said.

One incident involved an 11-year-old middle school student. Even at such a young age, he was booked into secure detention.

Deputies encourage fellow students, school staff, and parents to say something if they see something. That happened in this case.

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Rather than just prosecuting juvenile crime after the fact, KCPAO is being more proactive with its Safer Schools Strategies. The program includes helping schools with threat assessments and increasing communications between schools, prosecutors, police, and parents.

“We’re availing these kids of services much earlier and really pushing community connections and community support at a much earlier stage than we as prosecutors have in the past,” King County Senior Deputy Prosecutor Diana Chen said.

King County prosecutors have more options for high-risk students

Prosecutors can also now seek Extreme Risk Protection Orders to intervene with high-risk students who may have access to firearms. They are civil in nature, rather than criminal, to keep kids out of the system.

“They are civil in nature, so there is no criminal history. The records are sealed. It’s really designed to reduce stigma to the young person and the family, and to keep them out of the justice system,” King County Prosecuting Attorney Leesa Manion explained.

The office also helps schools with threat assessments and notifies schools when a student has a pending, felony firearms case. In the first year of notifications, the 2024-2025 school year, 100 notifications were made to schools.

The goal is to be firm, but compassionate. While violent crimes cannot be ignored, prosecutors act with the knowledge that young teenage brains are not yet fully developed.

“We know when juveniles have access to firearms, when juveniles are carrying firearms, it’s a dangerous situation. We know they are impulsive. We know they are highly susceptible to peer pressure. We know the behavior, in and of itself, is dangerous, and if you’re carrying a firearm, you’re also more likely to become a victim of firearm violence. All of those trends are alarming,” Manion said.

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