Seattle’s City Council has officially carved out a day in the calendar for a Garfield High School student whose killing shook the Central District, declaring June 6 as “Amarr Murphy-Paine Day” to honor his life and community impact. Family members stood in council chambers to accept the proclamation and, once again, pushed leaders to do more to protect students on campus. The recognition comes nearly two years after Amarr was shot and killed outside Garfield during the school day.
According to FOX 13 Seattle, Council President Joy Hollingsworth opened Tuesday’s meeting by reading the proclamation and thanking the Murphy-Paine family for turning their grief into community service. The measure formally sets June 6 as the day Seattle will remember Amarr’s life and contributions.
Amarr’s father, Arron Murphy-Paine, told the council he still wears a heart-shaped pendant with his son’s photo, recalling, “I dropped him off at school, and he was dead at school before school ended.” His grandmother, Veronica Murphy, used the moment to demand stronger protections for students, asking, “What kind of justice is that for black children?” FOX 13 Seattle reported.
Family turns grief into community action
In the months since the shooting, the Murphy-Paine family has poured their energy into Amarr’s Heart Foundation, organizing blanket, sock and hygiene drives, along with school-centered memorial events to support neighbors in need. The goal is to keep Amarr’s name tied to violence-prevention and healing work while also providing direct help to the community. Local coverage of the foundation’s efforts appeared in Cascade PBS.
City response and school-safety debate
Advocates and city officials have used Amarr’s death to argue for expanded mental-health services and tighter campus safety, including more robust security staffing and stricter controls on who can enter school grounds. Amarr was shot and killed on June 6, 2024, in Garfield’s parking lot, as reported by KUOW. The City Council has also put a spotlight on youth homicides and has publicly called for witnesses and new prevention strategies, according to a Seattle City Council release.
Legal action and unsolved case
In May 2025, the family filed a wrongful-death lawsuit against Seattle Public Schools, alleging negligence over campus security, according to Capitol Hill Seattle. The homicide remains unsolved, and community groups have boosted rewards for information. Crime Stoppers of Puget Sound lists a reward and urges anyone with tips to come forward.
The new council proclamation stands as the latest public acknowledgment of a killing that continues to influence citywide debates over safety, school resources and community support in Seattle’s Central District. Family members say they hope Amarr Murphy-Paine Day will both keep his memory alive and push leaders to follow words with action.
