Teen Pleads Guilty in Mall Shooting | Seattle News

Seattle News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Aug 27, 2026 · 1m

A sixteen-year-old teen, Samuel Gizaw, has pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the tragic 2024 Alderwood Mall shooting that killed thirteen-year-old Jayda Woods-Johnson. The incident erupted during a confrontation where Gizaw, after being punched, pulled out a gun and chased others — missing his intended target but fatally hitting Jayda, an innocent bystander. Despite no prior record, Gizaw’s bail was set at $2 million, and social media posts of him with firearms were presented in court. In his plea, he expressed deep remorse and sought closure for Jayda’s grieving family. He now faces…