A 16-year-old boy, arrested in connection with a shooting at Alderwood mall that resulted in the death of a 13-year-old girl, has been released on bail, authorities reported. The incident, which took place on Wednesday, escalated from an altercation between two groups of teens and culminated in a fatal gunshot wound to Jayda Woods-Johnson, who was uninvolved in the fight and present at the mall with her best friend. According to a press release from Lynnwood Police, conveyed by KOMO News, the department expressed "our deepest sympathy to (the victim's) family and friends for their unimaginable loss due to this senseless act of violence."
The suspect, who is from Edmonds, had his bond set at $500,000 and was originally slated to appear in court on Friday. Nonetheless, he managed to quickly post bail and was released, with no future hearings scheduled as of the latest updates. The Snohomish County Prosecutor's Office is reviewing the case, as reported by FOX 13 Seattle. The shooting suspect's weapon has yet to be recovered, and detectives are continuing their investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
In response to the tragedy and subsequent release of the suspect, Woods-Johnson's family expressed their profound disappointment and upset. "We are extremely disappointed and disgusted to learn the mall shooter, the 16-year-old, responsible for murdering our daughter, is shockingly already out on bail back comfortable in his home," the family stated in a message conveyed by Lynnwood Police and cited by KIRO 7 News. They went on to criticize the legal process, stating "However, we are sickened and even more troubled to learn yesterday how the court has failed to protect our daughter and any future victims."
As the Edmonds School District mourns the loss of Woods-Johnson, a student eagerly anticipating eighth grade, they have announced the availability of counselors for students needing support. "Our Brier Terrace Middle School and Edmonds School District community experienced a heartbreaking loss on Wednesday evening," the district expressed in a statement. The officials plan to quickly extend support from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on designated days for any students in need, reported by KOMO News. Amid the community's grief, a GoFundMe page has been established to support Jayda's family. Additionally, Alderwood Mall has announced they are beefing up security in the wake of the incident, adding three more staff and a K-9 unit for shopper safety, as reported by KIRO 7 News.
