LYNNWOOD—One year after the tragic death of 13-year-old Jayda Johnson in a mall shooting, her family in collaboration with Support 7 are organizing a remembrance event on July 3, 2025, from 7 to 10 p.m. at Mukilteo Lighthouse Park to honor her memory and advocate for stronger measures to prevent youth violence. The gathering aims to foster dialogue on accountability and support systems to ensure such incidents do not recur.
On July 3, 2024, Jayda was at a local mall’s food court with her best friend, heading to meet her friend’s mother for a ride home. Authorities report that 16-year-old Samuel Gizaw entered the shopping center armed with a firearm. During a confrontation with a group of boys, Gizaw discharged his weapon, fatally striking Jayda, an innocent bystander with no connection to the individuals involved.
The eighth grader will now be remembered as “Forever 13,” by her classmates.
Jayda’s mother, Tabatha Johnson, shared her ongoing grief from that tragic day, July 3, 2024, highlighting the senseless nature of the tragedy.
“I should be watching my daughter prepare for high school right now—not speaking her name in past tense,” said Jayda’s Mom, Tabatha Johnson. “Jayda didn’t even know those boys. She was just a kid, being a kid, with her best friend. And now she’s gone, because Samuel Gizaw brought a gun to a mall and didn’t care about who else got hurt. We miss her every single day. We don’t get to move on. We live in the aftermath of that choice.”
She noted that court delays in Gizaw’s case have added to the family’s pain as they await justice. The incident has left a lasting impact on the community, affecting mall employees, Jayda’s friends, and others who mourn the loss of a vibrant young life.
In the months since the shooting, Gizaw has been held in custody awaiting trial. Court dates have been delayed repeatedly, causing additional anguish for Jayda’s family, the community and everyone involved.
“It’s not just our family who carries the weight of this,” said Jayda’s mother, Tabatha Johnson “A whole community was shaken that day—mall employees, Jayda’s friends, parents, teachers and school leaders, people who didn’t even know Jayda personally but saw a bright, young life cut short for no reason. One terrible choice created a ripple that hasn’t stopped, and we are still living the nightmare he caused.”
The remembrance event on Thursday will include a bonfire where attendees can share memories of Jayda, known for her joyful spirit, love of music, movies, and dancing, and her positive influence on others.
The Johnson family is asking the community to honor Jayda’s memory by continuing conversations about youth violence, accountability, and the urgent need for stronger support systems that prevent incidents like this from ever happening again.
Mukilteo Lighthouse Park is located at 609 Front Street in Mukilteo.
Support 7: Since 1981, Support 7, a 501c3 non-profit organization, has been serving the South Snohomish County Community and its First Responder agencies by providing a private gathering place, an emergency support unit, for victims and survivors at on-scene events. The team responds on-scene alongside local police and fire to events, such as house/apartment fires, natural disasters, search and rescue operations, unexpected deaths, including natural deaths, death by suicide, homicide, fatal overdoses and other fatalities. They devote hundreds of hours to assist first responders to care more effectively for a victim’s physical, emotional, and spiritual needs at times of significant incidents of trauma.
Author: Mario Lotmore
