By Jim Haley
Herald Writer
SNOHOMISH — Four days after allegedly participating in a violent jewelry store robbery here, a Seattle high school student boarded an airplane bound for Europe, apparently en route to Zurich, Switzerland, officials said Friday.
The information confirms the fears of local law officers, who knew Adrian Elvis Gordon had a passport, traveled frequently to Europe and had relatives in Switzerland.
A nationwide hunt was already under way for Gordon, 18, who skipped out on $75,000 bail after the April 12 robbery at Sachi Fine Jewelry and Design, 1024 First St.
Police and the Snohomish County Prosecutor’s Office are seeking the help of the FBI and U.S. Attorney’s Office in locating Gordon abroad.
"It’s just a matter of time," Snohomish police Sgt. Corey Cook said. "We’re going to put every effort into getting him back."
On Friday, Snohomish detectives learned that Gordon left Seattle-Tacoma International Airport for London’s Heathrow Airport at 6:10 p.m. on April 16. He carried one bag, and an older man paid about $1,500 cash for the ticket, said Mark Roe, deputy prosecutor.
Reservations for the flight were made the previous day, Cook said. The flight connected with one to Zurich, and police were still seeking confirmation Friday night that Gordon was on the connecting flight, Cook added.
Cook said he talked to the airline employee who sold the ticket to Gordon, and the employee identified a photo of him.
Police don’t know who bought the ticket for Gordon.
"We have a description of him, but we don’t know who he is," Cook said. Roe added that the person could face charges of rendering criminal assistance.
Gordon was arrested after a massive manhunt in Snohomish following the violent robbery. Two young bandits smashed three glass cases and made off with about $15,000 in jewelry. The store’s owner was hit in the head with a hammer and needed hospitalization. Another employee was disabled with pepper spray.
Gordon was wounded in the arm by a bystander who fired at the getaway car while trying to stop the robbers, who roared away from the jewelry story in a Honda stolen that morning in Seattle. Not far away was a Volvo owned by Gordon’s parents.
The thieves also brought a 9mm Beretta pistol, which was dropped in the jewelry store during the robbery. The gun also was stolen.
The getaway plan went awry when the Honda, with a tire shot out, crashed.
Gordon and 17-year-old Carlo A. Torrejon, also of Seattle, were charged with first-degree robbery on April 18. If convicted, they could spend between 7 1/2and 8 1/2years in prison.
Gordon’s mother in Seattle declined to talk with a reporter on Friday. But police said she told them earlier that she didn’t know her son’s whereabouts or the location of his passport.
Deputy prosecutor Roe said earlier that Gordon’s attorney assured him on April 16 that the young defendant would return to court for arraignment once charges were filed. At the time, authorities were still gathering information to charge Torrejon.
Gordon had hired an attorney and went to school on April 15.
"That’s not something you generally do if you’re planning on running," Roe said.
On the day Gordon left Sea-Tac, Roe said the attorney called to say he couldn’t guarantee the young man would come to court. Roe then filed the robbery charges against the two Roosevelt High School students.
Police said Gordon speaks a couple of foreign languages fluently.
Police said they also recovered a stolen rifle from Gordon’s home after his mother allowed them to search the house. The rifle was stolen in a North Seattle burglary in November.
Just prior to the robbery, Gordon had been in California with his parents, but he came home alone April 9. He was supposed to have picked up his parents at Sea-Tac the day of the robbery, but he didn’t show up , police said earlier.
You can call Herald Writer Jim Haley at 425-339-3447
or send e-mail to haley@heraldnet.com.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
