On Friday, a tight circle of family and friends gathered at Martha Lake to mark two years since 13-year-old Jayda Johnson was shot and killed at Alderwood Mall. Her mother calls it an “Angelversary,” a bittersweet memorial that drew relatives, classmates and neighbors who say they keep her memory alive through stories, shirts and songs.
Remembering an 'Angelversary'
Attendees arrived in matching shirts printed with Jayda’s photo and unfurled a banner that read “Forever 13,” turning the lakeside into an outdoor tribute to the teen’s love of music and movies. The gathering was quiet but intentional, more like a family reunion held in the shadow of loss.
“The absence of Jayda is felt 24/7,” her mother, Tabatha Johnson, told those assembled, asking the wider public to remember her daughter’s laughter and energy, not just the headlines. The memorial at Martha Lake served both as a space for mourning and as a platform for the family’s ongoing call for accountability, according to FOX 13 Seattle.
Frustration With The Legal Timeline
That push for accountability is closely tied to a legal process the family says feels painfully slow. Prosecutors have charged 16-year-old Samuel Gizaw as an adult, and he remains in custody on $2 million bail. He has pleaded not guilty to murder and firearm-related counts filed in Snohomish County Superior Court.
Local reporting shows prosecutors brought first- and second-degree murder charges, along with assault and weapons allegations. Even so, a firm trial date has yet to be set, leaving the case in limbo. As HeraldNet reported, Gizaw’s arraignment drew a courtroom filled with family members and friends, underscoring how many lives remain tethered to the outcome.
How The Shooting Unfolded
According to charging documents, the violence started with a confrontation between two groups of teenagers near the Alderwood Mall food court. Prosecutors say a teen punched Gizaw, who then drew a handgun and chased after the group. The shot he allegedly fired missed its intended target and instead hit Jayda, who was not involved in the fight.
In the aftermath, mall officials added extra security staff and a K-9 unit in response to the killing, KIRO 7 reported. The July 3, 2024 incident left Lynnwood residents rattled, sparked vigils and stirred fresh debate over how easily teens can access guns.
Calls For Change
In the months after Jayda’s death, her family stepped into a second role they never wanted: advocates. They began pushing for what they call “Jayda’s Law,” which calls for tougher consequences for juveniles who commit serious violent crimes and more accountability around how minors get their hands on firearms.
Their petition drives and appeals to lawmakers have drawn continued local coverage, as the family presses for legislative fixes rather than symbolic gestures. Community leaders and classmates have kept up a schedule of vigils and remembrance events to support those efforts and keep the issue from fading from view, as documented by the Lynnwood Times. For the Johnsons, these memorials are not only about grief but also a public plea to prevent another family from enduring the same loss.
What Comes Next In Court
Behind the scenes, defense attorneys have filed motions in the case and previously asked judges to reduce Gizaw’s bail. So far, courts have kept the $2 million figure in place while prosecutors prepare for trial.
The charges, filed in adult court under state law for serious violent offenses, mean Gizaw could ultimately face a jury in superior court, although no trial date has been announced. According to reporting and court records, the case remains active as investigators and attorneys continue to build toward trial, as outlined by HeraldNet.
For now, the Johnson family lives in a holding pattern, splitting their time between private mourning and public advocacy. “He’s alive and breathing, Jayda’s not,” Tabatha Johnson said, summing up the ache that brings them back to the water each year to mark another Angelversary. They say they will keep organizing memorials, telling Jayda’s story and speaking out until the courts finish their work and, they hope, the law catches up to their calls for change.
