A 16-year-old boy was charged with unlawful possession of a firearm after he allegedly shot at Renton police officers during the attempted arrest of a passenger in the vehicle he was riding in.
On May 14, the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office charged a 16-year-old boy with unlawful possession of a firearm after he allegedly shot at officers. According to charging documents, Renton Police Department Officers and Valley SWAT surrounded a vehicle in an attempt to arrest Diego Corona, 18, for allegedly shooting a man the day prior. Documents state that while SWAT surrounded the vehicle, the boy shot at officers twice, not injuring any, prompting officers to shoot back, injuring the boy.
According to the probable cause documents filed by the King County Sheriff’s Office, they believed there was probable cause to charge the boy with five counts of first-degree assault, drive-by shooting and second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm. The boy was only charged with second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm.
However, prosecutor’s office spokesperson Casey McNerthney said the sheriff’s office investigation is ongoing, and additional charges are possible based on information referred by deputies.
McNerthney said senior deputy prosecutors from both the adult and juvenile divisions reviewed the case, and under Washington law, prosecutors statewide do not have the option to ask a judge to move this charge to adult court.
Details of the incident
According to documents, officers were attempting to arrest Corona, and surveillance caught him entering a 2016 Cadillac ATS four-door sedan. Documents state that, alongside Corona, an 18-year-old girl drove the sedan, the boy was in the front passenger seat and there was another unidentified male in the sedan.
During surveillance, the boy was seen in the sedan armed with a handgun that had a large capacity magazine. Documents state that the sedan traveled to the parking lot of a barbershop at 16914 116th Ave. SE in Renton.
Shortly after the sedan was parked, multiple armored SWAT vehicles surrounded the sedan. Documents state that the vehicle directly in front of the sedan carried five SWAT officers wearing helmets and body armor.
According to documents, moments after the SWAT vehicles surrounded the sedan, the boy fired two shots through the front windshield of the sedan directly toward the SWAT vehicle directly in front of the car, and officers fired back and hit the boy.
According to documents, the boy exited the sedan, was rendered aid and officers arrested him. The boy was transported to Harborview Medical Center.
Documents state that the King County Independent Force Investigation Team processed the scene and uncovered a Glock 17 with a large capacity magazine next to the driver’s side of the sedan on the ground. Additionally, after the sedan was towed, an AR-15 style rifle, a Glock 43 9mm handgun and two fired 9mm cartridge casings were located.
“[The boy] fired two rounds at a SWAT vehicle that contained five officers, and his intent and aim was clearly to strike those officers but only for luck did he not hit/kill them,” documents state.
