Teenager shot dead in Lynnwood mall; 16-year-old mother becomes suspect

The Lynnwood Police Department (LPD) has confirmed that a 13-year-old girl was shot at Alderwood Mall on Wednesday evening and later succumbed to her injuries.

She has been identified as 13-year-old Jayda Woods-Johnson. Her death is being investigated as a homicide.

Two groups of teenagers got into an altercation near the food court around 6 p.m. when someone fired a gun, hitting the girl, LPD Deputy Chief Patrick Fagan told KIRO 7. Police said the girl was an innocent bystander.

More information on the suspect and the teenager who was shot in Lynnwood

No suspects were arrested at the scene. But according to a post by the LPD on X, the suspect was identified as a 16-year-old boy from Edmonds and is in custody after his mother brought him in. The department previously posted pictures of the suspect in several X posts.

The department’s X-Post further stated that the suspect would go to prison for murder.

At the time of the shooting, people in the mall were told to get to safety. That order was lifted shortly before 7:30 p.m.

A witness said he had just left the food court when he heard what sounded like fireworks.

More crime in Snohomish County: 2 people arrested for drive-by shooting in quiet Edmonds area

In another X-post late Wednesday night, LPD reported that Woods-Johnson’s family “requests privacy at this time.” They ask that all media contacts be handled through the Lynnwood Police Department.

“The Lynnwood Police Department extends its deepest condolences to Jayda’s family and friends for their unimaginable loss in this senseless act of violence,” Fagan said in a statement, according to Lynnwood Today.

The gun has not yet been found. In its final X-post about the shooting late Wednesday, the LPD asked anyone who might know any of the people involved in the crime to call 425-670-5623.

This is a developing story. Check back later for updates.

Contributors: KIRO 7; Steve Coogan

Bill Kaczaraba is a content editor at MyNorthwest. You can read his stories here. Follow Bill on X, formerly known as Twitter, Here and send him an email here.