LYNNWOOD—Approximately 350 attended the 4th Annual Reception & Auction on Sunday hosted by Support 7, a nonprofit that assists public safety agencies to effectively care for victims in real-time during events of trauma. The themes of “Community” and “Hope” for 2025 were ever so present when Executive Director Shannon Sessions and Lynnwood Police Chief Cole Langdon recognized three Alderwood Mall employees, with permission of the family, who tried to save the life of Jayda Woods-Johnson, 13 at the time, who was fatally caught in the crossfire of a shooting at the food court in the mall.
On that tragic day, July 3, 2024, Ruby Robles-Muniz, Joe Nieves-Rogue, and Chris Marsh, rushed to the aid of Jayda. Nieves-Rogue performed CPR in an attempt to save the life of Jayda, her best friend Maelisa Nawas, who is now 13 and was 12 at the time of the incident, shared with attendees. All three, she said, helped calm her down and provided much needed support to Jayda.
“They all did an amazing job… I really appreciate all of them and thank you,” Nawas said.
Nawas was walking with Brier Terrace Middle School seventh-grader Woods-Johnson who was fatally shot by a stray bullet from a firearm, that has yet to be recovered, allegedly by Samuel Gizaw—16 at the time of the incident. At the time of Jayda’s murder, Gizaw was suspended from school. Videos of multiple incidents allegedly of Gizaw engaged in fights and possessing firearms were later retrieved from his mobile phone.
Snohomish County Superior Court Judge Anna Alexander in September denied Gizaw attorney’s request for the court to lower his client’s bail amount from $2 million to $790,000. Gizaw remains in jail charged with murder, assault, and unlawful possession of a firearm.
“Jayda wasn’t alone, Maelisa wasn’t alone,” Sessions said to a room in profound empathy and silence. “They [Ruby, Joe, and Chris] were selfless, brave and caring,” she added, who all exemplified what it means to be a “community.”
Tabatha and Jeremy Johnson, the parents of Jayda Woods-Johnson, were recognized by The Gaydos Family in the name of Dennis Butterfield, who was awarded that evening with the Ken Gaydos Good Samaritan Award.
The late Ken Gaydos, founder of Support 7, was the longest serving police/fire chaplain in the state of Washington and one of the longest to serve in the United States. After his passing on September 3, 2018, The Gaydos Family established the Ken Gaydos Good Samaritan Award to honor a person who, like Jesus in the biblical parable of the Good Samaritan, helped a stranger in a time of hopelessness and trauma.
Butterfield, since 2008, has dedicated his post-retirement years to helping those in their time of great need as a Support 7 Incident Response Team Officer. Butterfield retired from the Washington State Department of Transportation in 2007 and has been a District 10 Fire Commissioner for the last 12 years.
Kristin Gaydos-Camp, one of four children of Ken and Lois Gaydos, shared that Butterfield kept the fire rigs response-ready and is the first to volunteer when others are unable to make it to an incident. “He is the first to set up and last to tear down,” she said.
At this year’s annual event, Support 7 celebrated the nonprofit’s new Gen. III Emergency Response Vehicle thanks to the $160,000 contribution by South County Fire Union 1828. The nonprofit also recognized Lynnwood Kiwanis Club ($20,000), North Sound Church ($15,000), Garneau-Nicon Family Foundation ($15,000), and individual community members ($35,000) for their “mission-critical” contributions that helped “make this vehicle a reality.”
Sunday’s annual fundraising event that took place at Community Life Center in Lynnwood, also consisted of a silent auction, hearty appetizers, a live auction, a dessert dash, and ending in a panel discussion on the collaboration and efforts of support in a fatal arson fire incident to conclude the evening.
The event was catered by Stella’s Living Story and live music was provided by David Little of All Occasion Pianist (telephone 425-478-1581 or 425-775-3794).
Live auction items included a Salmon Fishing Charter Trip, luxury tea for six at Golden Leaf & Crumb, a private dinner experience with Chef Michael Felsenstein courtesy of the Lynnwood Event Center, a four-night all-inclusive ocean front oasis for two at the five-star Marival Luxury resort in Bandera Bay or Nuevo Nayarit in Mexico, and a wine and dine cruise for four aboard the Catrinus, a 42-foot classic trawler in Ballard.
Slavik Petrus, CEO of Pacific Northwest Emergency Response Team, donated his five-star Marival Luxury resort stay in Mexico to Police Chief Langdon for his dedicated service to Lynnwood. Former Lynnwood Councilwoman Julieta Altamirano-Crosby, along with local municipal judges and Wally Webster II, together, pooled their resources to have Michael G. Reagan paint a portrait dedicated to Support 7 Executive Director Shannon Sessions.
The $150,000 goal for the evening is to offset annual operational expenditures for Support 7. The nonprofit partners with local first responders and assists them as well as victims in moments of crisis such as unexpected natural deaths, death by suicide, homicide and other fatalities.
Support 7 mobile unit provides individuals with a private place with water and snacks where they can step away from the crisis, onlookers, and potential media they may not want to deal with at the moment. The organization also provides a connection to other resources like grief counselors, funeral services, medical examiner office, etc.
Support 7 also responds to care for displaced victims and families from house and commercial fires, SWAT callouts, and vehicle collisions involving pedestrians.
Other notable attendees for the evening were Edmonds City Councilwoman Vivian Olson, Mountlake Terrace City Councilman Dr. Steve Woodard, Snohomish County South Division Judges Beth Fraser and Jeffery Goodwin, and Lynnwood Municipal Judge Valerie Bouffiou among other elected officials.
Author: Mario Lotmore
