SEATTLE — West Seattle students walked out of their school to show support for a local family whose loved one was mysteriously shot and killed.
On Tuesday, the medical examiner’s office ruled the death as a homicide.
INVESTIGATION:
Seattle police said a 15-year-old student was shot and killed inside the Southwest Pool Teen Life Center bathroom on Southwest Thistle Street last Tuesday afternoon.
Police say the victim was with his friends when they entered the building.
According to the King County Medical Examiner’s Office, the victim was identified as 15-year-old Mobarak Sharif Adam of Seattle.
“Several youths had entered the establishment, they noted their friend had been shot and then they left,” Seattle Police Chief Adrian Diaz said last Tuesday. “We’re still trying to get a little more detail about what occurred.”
“Right now, we have not had any reports of an altercation or anything that would suggest that,” he continued.
It’s not clear if police are looking for any possible suspects or if a gun was found at the scene.
KIRO 7 reached out to the Seattle Police Department to get more details about the investigation. A spokesperson said they did not have any updates as of Monday afternoon.
However, Seattle police are urging people with information to come forward.
STUDENT WALKOUT:
Hundreds of students gathered outside of Chief Sealth International High School, less than a block away from where the deadly shooting took place.
At the demonstration, the victim’s older sister, older brother, uncle, religious leaders, elected officials, and the school principal spoke to the public about safety measures.
Nearly 50 minutes into the demonstration, students, loved ones, and supporters marched up Southwest Thistle Street toward the Teen Life Center where Adam had taken his final breath.
KIRO 7 reached out to Seattle Public Schools about the demonstration.
A spokesperson shared the following statement:
Seattle Public Schools (SPS) supports students’ rights to express their views in a peaceful manner, including assembly and peaceful protest. This includes today’s planned student walkout at Chief Sealth International High School. While students may choose to participate in the walkout today, classes will continue as regularly scheduled. This walkout was not planned or organized by SPS or Chief Sealth staff.
SPS takes the safety and well-being of students very seriously. We respect student voices and listen to our students’ concerns. It is understandable that students and the community are concerned about safety in the neighborhoods and areas surrounding our campuses. SPS condemns any form of violence, and we are dedicated to providing a nurturing and safe educational environment for all students.
CAMERAS INSIDE TEEN LIFE CENTER:
KIRO 7 spoke with family members of Mobarak Adam on Monday.
“As a family, we’ve been grieving his loss and the loss of his presence as a person,” said Leyla Adam, the victim’s older sister. “He’s not a kid that you’d expect anything to happen to because he’s so good intentioned and he had a good heart.”
“He sincerely was a good kid,” she continued.
Several family members said they have received limited and inconsistent information from police and management at the Teen Life Center, including about the building’s cameras.
“The day of the incident, they had told her [mother] there were no cameras in or around the building, and then soon after, they confirmed there were cameras, but they don’t work and haven’t been on for like a year,” said Leyla Adam.
Keyradin Adam, the victim’s older brother, said the status of the cameras significantly affects the investigation and also impacts students’ safety.
“It is unacceptable that there were no cameras in there for an entire year from what I heard,” he said. “An entire year, not a single camera inside that building.”
KIRO 7 reached out to Seattle Parks and Recreation to get more details about the building’s cameras and its response to the deadly shooting.
We’re still waiting to hear back.
FAMILY’S RESPONSE:
Loved ones said the family has limited information about the investigation nearly a week after Adam’s death.
“Really Mom and Dad don’t know anything,” said Abdo Tuffa, a member of the family’s clan. “As a community, we don’t know anything.”
FAMILY’S RESPONSE:
Loved ones said the family has limited information about the investigation nearly a week after Adam’s death.
During the demonstration, family members were urging for more safety measures to ensure other students are safe in the future.
“As a community, we just want to see more gun regulations. Kids should not have access to firearms,” said Leyla Adam. “There shouldn’t be firearms anywhere near school premises or community centers.”
Momina Haji, the victim’s mother, said, “We need no gun at this school, and we need metal detectors.”
“They need to bring my son through what happened to him.” she continued, “We need justice for my son.”
Mobarak Adam was the middle child of 11 siblings.
Loved ones described him as a centerpiece of the family.
“Everyone loved Mobarak,” said Keyradin Adam. “Without Mobarak, it’s sort of an empty hole like something is missing.”
“As an older sister, you don’t always say I love you to your siblings, but I really did love him,” said Leyla Adam. “I still really do love him, that hasn’t changed.”
“When he comes home from school, he never goes up the stairs to his room without giving me a hug,” the mother said. “I miss that hug.”