A 13-year-old boy is in juvenile detention after deputies say he pointed a handgun at a passing driver just a block from West Hills STEM Academy in Bremerton on Wednesday evening. Deputies say the teen ditched the weapon during a short foot chase, and investigators later recovered the handgun. No shots were fired, and no one was hurt.
Deputies were called around 7:30 p.m. for reports of a gun threat near W. Loxie Eagans Boulevard and S. National Avenue, according to FOX 13 Seattle. A driver told dispatch he had passed two teenage boys walking in the middle of the road when one of them allegedly pulled out a gun and pointed it at his vehicle. Deputies later tracked down two boys matching the description, and the investigation ended with one of them in handcuffs.
The call came in from just a block away from West Hills STEM Academy, a K–8 magnet school at 520 S. National Ave., an address listed on the school's website. The close distance to a campus helps explain the swift law enforcement response. Authorities say there were no injuries, and the school's site continues to list contact information and the campus address for families and community members.
How Deputies Say The Arrest Went Down
According to the Kitsap County Sheriff's Office, one of the teens ran while deputies were searching the other. Investigators say the fleeing boy tossed a handgun during the chase and then tried to hide under a nearby truck before a sergeant spotted him and took him into custody. Deputies recovered the discarded firearm, found it was unloaded and later confirmed it had been reported stolen. The sheriff's office says the suspect tried to evade capture and the area was secured while detectives processed the scene and followed up.
What The 13-Year-Old Is Accused Of
The teen was booked into Kitsap County Juvenile Detention on suspicion of second-degree assault, possession of a stolen firearm, obstruction of police and possession of cannabis, authorities told FOX 13 Seattle. Because he is a juvenile, officials are keeping tight limits on what they release about his identity and any prior record.
What The Law Says
Under Washington law, assault in the second degree is a class B felony, and possessing a stolen firearm is also a class B felony. The specific statutory language is laid out in RCW 9A.36.021 and RCW 9A.56.310. How the case moves forward, including whether it remains in juvenile court or is ever considered for adult prosecution, will depend on decisions by prosecutors and the facts investigators continue to develop.
Authorities are asking anyone with information about the incident to contact the Kitsap County Sheriff's Office tip line. This story will be updated if the sheriff's office, the Bremerton School District or prosecutors release additional details.
