Two 16-year-old boys who told police they needed a ride home have been charged with carjacking and threatening to shoot a mother with her baby.
Etinosa Esanbor of Tacoma and Michael Vanzant of Puyallup are to be tried as adults. They have pleaded not guilty to first-degree robbery, second-degree assault and attempting to elude a pursuing police vehicle.
Esanbor also faces a charge of second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm. His bail was set at $200,000; Vanzant is being held in lieu of $150,000 bail.
The incident occurred about 7:50 p.m. Sept. 25 at the apartment complex of the mother and a second person who was driving the car.
Charging papers state:
The mother was taking her son out of his carseat when she and the driver noticed two teens approach and try to cover their faces. She asked if she could help them. Esanbor pointed a gun at her and demanded the car keys.
When the mother told the driver not to hand over the keys, Esanbor said he wouldn’t hurt her child but threatened to shoot her. After the driver handed over the keys and the teens sped away in her car, the victims called 911.
Within minutes, two police vehicles were behind the stolen car and ordering Vanzant to pull over. The pursuit continued several minutes until both teens jumped out of the car and tried to run.
Esanbor was pulled from the bushes where he’d been hiding. A backpack with a handgun was found beside him. Vanzant also was taken into custody.
During a police interview, Esanbor “admits that he and Vanzant needed a ride home so they decided to use the gun a friend had given them after school.”
stacia.glenn@thenewstribune.com
253-597-8653
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