13-Year-Old Arrested After Violent Purse Snatching and Assault at West Seattle Pharmacy

SEATTLE, WA — A 13-year-old boy has been arrested and charged with robbery after a violent strong-arm purse snatching and assault outside a West Seattle pharmacy on April 6, 2024.

According to Seattle Police, the incident occurred at a pharmacy located in the 2600 block of Southwest Barton Street. The altercation began inside the store when a pharmacy employee confronted a group of teenagers for attempting to leave without paying for items.

Violent Escalation

A female customer witnessed the confrontation and made a comment to the teenagers. In response, one of the teens snatched her purse and fled toward the exit. The victim pursued the suspect to the entrance of the store, where the situation escalated into violence:

• The 13-year-old suspect grabbed the woman by her shirt.
• He threw her to the ground.
• He proceeded to punch the victim in the face several times before fleeing with her purse.

The victim sustained facial injuries and was treated by medical personnel at the scene.

Arrest and Charges

Responding officers located the suspect shortly after the incident and took him into custody. The teen was booked into the Judge Patricia H. Clark Children and Family Justice Center on suspicion of robbery. Two other juveniles who were with the suspect were identified by officers and subsequently released to their guardians. Investigators have recovered video footage of the incident as evidence.