Seattle teen pleads not guilty to assault in Kent shooting

A 16-year-old Seattle boy pleaded not guilty to first-degree assault Thursday in King County Superior Court in connection with a Kent shooting April 14 that wounded a 19-year-old man.

Raqwon J. Slade is scheduled to return to court May 16 when a trial date could be set or attorneys could ask for more time to prepare the case. Slade remains in the county jail at the Norm Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent with bail set at $250,000.

Slade is being charged as an adult because anyone ages 16-17 is considered an adult under state law if charged with a serious violent crime, including first-degree assault.

Kent Police arrested Slade the evening of April 19 after a standoff at a house in the 24500 block of 104th Avenue Southeast. The teen eventually exited the house and surrendered to officers, which included a SWAT team.

The 19-year-old is expected to fully recover from his injuries despite being shot three times.

According to charging papers, a dispute started the afternoon of April 14 among Slade and several others while riding a Metro bus. Most of them knew each other. The arguing continued as they all departed the bus near the Jack in the Box. Two agreed to settle the argument by going up the street to 110th Avenue Southeast to fight each other.

The charging papers did not indicate what the males were arguing about beyond something regarding "a past issue."

Several of the males started to fight and eventually Slade reportedly pulled out a gun and shot the 19-year-old man in the 20800 block of 109th Lane Southeast. Slade then fled the scene.

Detectives were able to track down and identify Slade partly through witnesses reports and a video of him with a gun posted on the Facebook page of a female friend. It is thought to be the same gun used in the shooting.

Slade has no known prior convictions.

Contact Kent Reporter Courts, government reporter Steve Hunter at shunter@kentreporter.com or 253-872-6600, ext. 5052.

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