‘They all grabbed me and threw me’: Ballard students recall one of several terrifying attacks

SEATTLE — Several Ballard High School students have been attacked over the last month by masked suspects while walking in their neighborhoods.

We were able to confirm six attacks with parents and victims so far. Two of those victims are sophomores, Hank Wanek and Andres Angel. The two said they were walking home from school together when they were attacked near Loyal Heights Elementary School.

“They all grabbed me and threw me on the ground and just kind of started beating me up and hitting me in the back of the head I was down in the fetal position kind of covering my face,” Hank said.

The boys said the suspects made a sharp U-turn and then jumped out of a car and approached them.

“One of them like slapped me or punched me right here and so I started running,” Andres said.

They said the five men were wearing ski masks. The boys tried to run but only Andres was able to get away.

“It was really scary watching Hank getting beat up,” Andres said. “It was for a good five seconds and I was at the other side of the street and I didn’t know what to do.”

Hank said the group demanded his phone.

“The thing I’m most grateful for is I had some cash on me and an iPhone 13 on me and they didn’t try to take any of that I’m pretty sure it’s because I told them I had a Samsung so I’m grateful for my quick thinking,” Hank said. 

He said people started honking and that’s when the suspects jumped back in their car and sped off.

Another parent reached out to us and told us her son was attacked on Thursday. This time, she said the suspects had a gun. They once again demanded her son’s phone, which he gave them.

“Our kids shouldn’t normalize being robbed at gunpoint walking home from school,” the parent, who wants to remain anonymous, said.

The parent told us her son called 911 but no one responded. She said they have filed a police report with SPD but are still waiting to follow up with a detective.

“When you call 911 when you’re a victim and nobody shows up that’s extremely concerning, especially as a parent,” she said.

The Seattle Police Department said they are still investigating these crimes and believe the suspects may be teenagers. They also said when they have the staffing, they will provide extra patrols in the area.

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