WA teen pleads guilty to deadly Alderwood Mall shooting
Teen pleads guilty to deadly Alderwood Mall shooting
The teen who shot and killed a 13-year-old girl at Alderwood Mall in 2024 has pleaded guilty, and will be sentenced on October 23.
LYNNWOOD, Wash. - The teen accused of shooting and killing a 13-year-old girl at Alderwood Mall in 2024 has pleaded guilty to murder charges.
Samuel Gizaw, who was 16 at the time of the shooting, was originally charged as an adult with first-degree murder with a firearm, second-degree murder with a firearm, first-degree assault with a firearm and juvenile in possession of a firearm.
Samuel Gizaw pleads guilty to the deadly 2024 shooting of 13-year-old Jayda Woods-Johnson in a Snohomish County courtroom on Aug. 26, 2026. (FOX 13 Seattle)
The backstory:
The charges stemmed from an incident on July 3, 2024, where Gizaw got into an argument with another group of boys. After Gizaw was punched in the face, he pulled out a handgun and chased the teens down, according to court documents.
Gizaw fired at the teen who punched him but missed, striking 13-year-old Jayda Woods-Johnson, an innocent bystander walking through the mall with her 11-year-old friend. Woods-Johnson later died in the hospital.
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Alderwood Mall shooting: Family honors 13-year-old killed 2 years ago in Lynnwood, WA
"He’s alive and breathing, Jayda’s not, and that’s why we’re here," said the family of Jayda Johnson, an innocent 13-year-old bystander who was shot and killed at Alderwood Mall in Lynnwood two years ago.
Gizaw turned himself in to law enforcement after a warrant was issued for his arrest. His bail was set at $2 million despite not having a previous criminal record, though prosecutors showed photos of Gizaw posing with guns on social media in court.
What they're saying:
As part of a plea agreement, Gizaw has agreed to plead guilty to one count of second-degree murder. He officially entered the guilty plea on Wednesday, where he expressed remorse for the family:
"I would like to say that I'm truly sorry for my actions and take full responsibility for what I did," Gizaw said in court. "I made such a horrible mistake at such a young age that affected many people. I hope that today's guilty plea brings more closure to the family. I'm so sorry for what I did I can't even imagine what they go through everyday."
What's next:
Gizaw faces up to a maximum sentence of life in prison. His sentencing is set for Oct. 23.
Lynnwood family of Alderwood Mall shooting victim fights for ‘Jayda’s Law’
Her 13-year-old daughter was an innocent bystander shot and killed by a teen at Alderwood Mall this summer. Now, she tells us about her fight to hold parents accountable for their children's actions.
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The Source: Information in this story came from previous FOX 13 Seattle reporting.