Newly released video footage has shed light on the tragic shooting that resulted in the death of 13-year-old Jayda Woods-Johnson at Alderwood Mall in Lynnwood, Washington, this July.
The Lynnwood Police Department released surveillance footage from near the mall food court following a public disclosure records request. The 25-second clip shows an 8-second interval between a punch thrown by a group of boys and Jayda falling to the ground.
Samuel Gizaw, 16, faces multiple charges including first-degree murder, second-degree murder, first-degree assault, and second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm for the shooting on July 3.
The video appears to show Gizaw being punched in the face by another teen in the food court before he chased the teen and brandished a gun. The footage shows Gizaw walking backward, a punch being thrown, and Gizaw giving chase, eventually leading to Jayda collapsing on the opposite side of the corridor.
Charging documents suggest that Gizaw fired at the teen who had struck him, but the bullet missed and hit Jayda instead.
Jayda’s mother told KOMO News that she and a friend had just left the food court to take photos in a photo booth and were about to enter a store when the shooting occurred.
Additional footage from the LPD shows officers rushing to the scene and securing the mall while searching for the shooter. Gizaw later turned himself in after investigators released his surveillance image.
A hearing in Snohomish County Superior Court was scheduled for Wednesday afternoon. The defense has requested a reduction in Gizaw’s bail from $2 million to $790,000 and proposed a safety plan if bail is lowered. They argued that a bail reduction would prevent the loss of their home and asserted that Gizaw would not flee.
The prosecutor opposed the bail reduction, citing Gizaw’s history of violence, school troubles, and social media evidence showing him with a gun. They expressed concerns about his potential for committing further violence and his ties to Ethiopia, which could pose a flight risk.
