17-year-old robber released after guilty plea as juvenile commits new armed robbery 57 days later, say police
AUBURN -- King County Prosecutors have charged 17 year old Samson Hans with Robbery in the First Degree and Unlawful Possession of a Firearm in the First Degree. Detectives say he and two other suspects are responsible for a string of robberies in King County since late summer.
Prosecutors are charging Hans as an adult for an armed robbery at a gas station in Auburn because the crime occurred just 57 days after he pled guilty to an amended charge of Robbery in the Second Degree, was ordered not to have any firearm, given a suspended sentence and released.
The admission came after he and two other suspects robbed the PitStop Shell Gas Station in south King county on Nov. 1, 2018. Hans included this statement as part of his guilty plea, "On or about November 1, 2018, in King County, WA, along with others, I unlawfully stole cash and swisher sweets cigarettes in the presence of (victim's name redacted), who had a possessory interest in the property by the threatened use of force, with the intent to commit theft. I was high on Xanax at the time, although I recognize that this does not amount to a legal defense of this charge."
Hans entered the guilty plea on June 20th. On August 16th, Auburn Police say Hans and two other suspects robbed the 76 station at 1602 A St SE at gunpoint. One suspect punched the cashier in the side of his head with his fist and they threatened to shoot him if he didn't open the registers. The victim complied because he thought he was going to be shot and killed. The suspects stole cash and cigarettes.
On August 17th, a Kent Police K9 officer and a patrol officer spotted the white 2001 Honda Civic missing the front driver's side hubcap that the suspects had been seen driving. It was parked on the side of the road in the 23800 block of 108th Ave SE. All three suspects were in the car. Hans was sitting in the back seat with an unzipped backpack between his legs. Officers could see the upper slide of a silver handgun. The clothing on all three suspects matched the clothing seen on surveillance video in the Auburn robbery. Kent Police found $577 bundled in a roll in Han's sock as well as cash in the pockets of the other two suspects.
Detectives say Hans and the two other suspects who are both charged as juveniles committed as many as nine takeover style armed robberies including one at the 7-11 on Sand Point Way NE in Seattle on July 27th.
He is being held on $250,000 bail.
WANTED IN SEATTLE --
Seattle Police are hoping you help identify two serial armed robbery suspects who detectives say hit three stores in one night.
Watch the surveillance video below as they race into the 7-Eleven on Sand Point Way NE in Seattle on July 27th -- leaping the counter and pointing guns at the clerk. Detectives say the suspect carrying the handgun with the extended clip on it told the clerk, ‘Give me the money, or I'll kill you!" They cleaned-out the cash from the register and took off. Outside the store, there was a couple sitting there with all their stuff and what appears to be a stroller. You see them quickly pack everything up and leave when they realize it was an armed robbery, but they were able to give officers some info on the suspects. "They ran northbound, kind of parallel to Sand Point Way, got into what was described as a white 2-door Honda and then left northbound on Sand Point Way. No plates, or no real individual damage that would identify that vehicle,” said Ret. Det. Myrle Carner with Crime Stoppers of Puget Sound.
Detectives say the same two robbery suspects have also hit stores in Renton and Kent.
Officers say they are believed to be Hispanic and in their 20's.
If you can identify either of them, or have information to help solve the case, Crime Stoppers is offering a cash reward of up to $1,000. Submit an anonymous tip through the P3 Tips App on your smart phone, or call the hot line at 1-800-222-TIPS(8477).