Teen suspect in Renton school threats charged in robbery case

King County prosecutors have charged a 14-year-old Renton boy — who was arrested for threats against two Renton schools — in a separate felony robbery case.

King County prosecutors filed a charge of second-degree robbery against the 14-year-old on Dec. 20, 2023.

According to court documents, the 14-year-old suspect stole a backpack from a Nelsen Middle School student in an armed robbery incident involving multiple suspects.

According to Casey McNerthney, director of communications for the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, Renton police arrested the same 14-year-old boy on Dec. 15 for two incidents involving threats of violence against two Renton School District schools.

The threats resulted in the shutdown of three Renton campuses on Dec. 15 after a prank phone call alleged there was a firearms threat targeted Nelsen Middle School, and online threats targeted both Nelsen and Renton High School the day prior, Dec. 14.

According to the Renton Police Department, Valley SWAT served a warrant and arrested the teenager the morning of Dec. 15 after Renton investigators located and identified the suspect.

According to an affidavit of probable cause, Nelsen Middle School expelled the 14-year-old boy in 2022 and he “continues to return to the school and cause problems.”

According to the affidavit, the victim of the robbery incident, a Nelsen Middle School student, identified the 14-year-old suspect to police after a group of “many” juvenile suspects pulled up alongside him as he walked home from school.

According to the affidavit, the suspects, armed with firearms, pushed the victim to the ground and stole his backpack.

Witness photographs of the incident showed two stolen vehicles used in the incident.