Kent Police arrest two high school students for alleged beating death

Kent Police recently arrested a student at Kent-Meridian High School and another one at Kentridge High for investigation of second-degree murder after an alleged beating of a 56-year-old man on a bicycle in August.

Detectives are still looking for a 15-year-old boy and asking for the public’s help to find him, according to an Oct. 3 Kent Police news release. Kent Police issued a news release Sept. 10 that detectives were looking for three or four juvenile suspects in the beating.

On Sept. 26, police arrested a 17-year-old male student at Kent-Meridian and a 16-year-old male student at Kentridge. In a previous article about the Kentridge arrest, Police Chief Rafael Padilla said they were holding off about releasing details about the arrest.

Both suspects were booked into King County youth detention in Seattle for second-degree murder, according to police. Detectives are continuing to investigate the circumstances that led up to the assault and if additional parties will be charged.

Detectives were assisted in the arrests by the newly-formed Kent Police Crime Reduction Unit, the Tukwila Police Special Enforcement Unit and the individual school resource officers at each school provided by Kent Police by contract to the Kent School District.

The incident

Officers responded at about 9:04 p.m. Aug. 22 to East James Street and Central Avenue North in response to multiple 911 calls reporting an assault, according to police. Witnesses said that a group of juveniles had been assaulting a man on a bicycle and then fled the area.

When officers arrived, a 56-year-old man was being treated on the scene by Puget Sound Fire personnel. The man was unconscious and transported to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle where he underwent surgery. He died Sept. 8 in the hospital.

Troy Michael Harrison died Sept. 8 after an Aug. 22 incident on the roadway at East James Street and Central Avenue North, according to the King County Medical Examiner’s Office. The Sept. 10 report by the medical examiner listed the cause and manner of death as pending. The Medical Examiner’s Office is currently investigating Harrison’s exact cause of death, according to police.

Harrison died from injuries suffered during an assault Aug. 22, according to a Sept. 10 Kent Police news release.

Officers interviewed multiple witnesses at the crime scene who said that a group of up to 20 juveniles ran into the street and assaulted Harrison, who was riding a bicycle. They reportedly knocked him to the ground and continued to kick and hit him while he was down. The witnesses attempted to stop the attack by honking their horns and yelling but were not successful.

The group ran off after hearing approaching police vehicles. Detectives and officers scoured the area and located video evidence and additional witnesses. Through thorough investigation, they identified three juvenile males as the primary assault suspects.

Third suspect

Kent Police are asking for the public’s help to locate the third suspect, identified as Skyler David Young, a 15-year-old Kent resident.

Anyone with current information about the whereabouts of Young, are asked to call the police non-emergency dispatch line 253-852-2121 or call 911.

Witnesses to the assault who have not yet been interviewed, are asked to contact the police tip line at 253-856-5808 or email kentTipLine@kentwa.gov.