LYNNWOOD — The teen was shot in the back, then kicked repeatedly after he fell to the ground.
That’s what detectives investigating the death of a local high school student were told.
It didn’t take them long to detain two suspects in the Tuesday morning shooting.
Detectives with the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office will need a lot more time to sort through the different versions of events that led up to the fatal encounter.
The suspects, 24 and 19, were booked into the Snohomish County Jail Tuesday night for investigation of first-degree murder.
Friends and family on social media identified the slain teen as Anthony Boro, 16.
Authorities said Wednesday it would be up to the Snohomish County Medical Examiner to confirm the boy’s identity. In court on Wednesday, Snohomish County deputy prosecutor Dana Little told a judge that detectives believe the victim is a 16-year-old high school student. She did not use his name.
The Mukilteo School District on Wednesday reported the shooting death of a Mariner High School sophomore. He had a younger brother who attends a middle school in the district.
A message of “RIP Anthony Boro” was posted on the younger brother’s social media account. It was one of dozens of similar posts among young people in the community.
Boro was well-known and well-liked, said Mark Stewart, head coach of the Mariner football team. He played football his freshman year and showed up for some of the summer workouts this year but didn’t continue on the team this season.
Stewart heard about the death from students on the football team. The loss has had a wide impact at the school, especially on the sophomore class. Many students wore blue to school Wednesday to remember their friend. It was reportedly his favorite color.
“He was part of the Mariner family,” Stewart said. “We need to stick together like we always do. We’ll be there and support each other, and for the students, we’re here to support them.”
Counseling support will be available at school, district spokesman Andy Muntz said. “Our thoughts are with the student’s family and friends during this difficult time, he said.
It was the second shooting involving a Mariner student so far this school year. On Sept. 3, a boy, 17, and his sister, 14, were shot as they were walking near Discovery Elementary School, where they planned to practice dance steps for an upcoming quinceanera, a traditional celebration to mark a girl’s 15th birthday. Prosecutors say those young people, who survived, were just at the wrong place at the wrong time.
Anthony Boro reportedly was shot shortly before 1 a.m. Tuesday in a parking lot in the 16700 block of Larch Way near Lynnwood. The sheriff’s office initially reported that they believed he was in his 20s.
The suspects were identified as Jesse Landrum, 19, and Charles Courtney, 24. Both were staying at the apartment complex off Larch Way.
Courtney allegedly admitted shooting the teen in the back and Landrum allegedly admitted kicking him after he had been shot.
“At this time, it does not appear that the suspects knew the victim,” Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Shari Ireton said.
Detectives are continuing to sort through various versions of events that led up to the shooting.
An aluminum baseball bat was found near the teen’s body, according to a police report.
Courtney uses the street name “Magic,” according to a police report. He told detectives the teen “jiggled” his apartment door in what he thought was an attempt to break in and that he peered at the stranger through the peep hole.
Courtney reportedly had a .357-caliber revolver hidden in his pants while he spoke with a detective. He also allegedly was carrying four live rounds in a pants pocket as well as heroin and cash.
Landrum allegedly told detectives that he watched Courtney shoot the teen after he tried to run away. When Boro fell, Landrum said he heard “a clank” and something rolling,” which appeared to be the aluminum bat.
Landrum did not appear in court for a bail hearing Wednesday. His attorney, Pete Mazzone, said his client was dealing with a medical issue in the jail.
Mazzone argued that the probable cause statement failed to prove premeditation on his client’s part.
Little, the deputy prosecutor, told Judge Tam Bui that the victim was alive when Landrum allegedly started kicking him. Bui agreed that there was probable cause to hold the suspect.
Courtney appeared at Wednesday’s hearing. His bail was set at $3 million.
Eric Stevick: 425-339-3446; stevick@heraldnet.com.
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