A tragic incident unfolded at a shopping mall in Washington state when a 13-year-old girl, Jayda Woods Johnson, was fatally shot as she innocently walked past a fight in the food court, according to authorities.
The suspect, a 16-year-old boy from Edmonds, Washington, allegedly fired a single round after a confrontation with another group of teenagers at the Alderwood Mall food court.
Tragically, Johnson, who was simply passing by with a friend, was struck by the stray bullet and later succumbed to her injuries at the hospital.
According to police, the altercation involved four to five teenage boys confronting two others, resulting in a physical altercation and the fatal shooting.
The authorities in Lynwood, located approximately 17 miles north of Seattle, confirmed that the suspect was turned in by his own mother.
“He will be booked into jail for Murder. The gun has not yet been recovered,” stated the police.
Following the tragic incident, the mall was briefly placed on lockdown as investigations continued.
At this time, authorities are unsure if the altercation was gang-related or have details regarding the firearm used in the shooting.
