Official: 15-year-old killed in West Seattle restroom was a homicide victim

The 15-year-old boy who was found shot and killed in a West Seattle community center last week was the victim of a homicide.

That’s according to the King County Medical Examiner’s Office, which says Mobarak Sharif Adam of Seattle died from a gunshot wound to his torso.

The Seattle Police Department is investigating, but they have yet to announce an arrest.

Adam was a student at Chief Sealth International High School. His body was found Jan. 23 in a bathroom at the nearby Southwest Teen Life Center.

What happened on Jan. 23

According to police, the boy was with friends when they came into the building, then the other kids left.

“Several youths had entered the establishment, they noted their friend had been shot and then they left,” said Seattle Police Chief Adrian Diaz. “We’re still trying to get a little more detail about what occurred. Right now we have not had any reports of an altercation or anything that would suggest that.”

Police are working to determine the circumstances that led up to the shooting. They are also looking for the gun that was used.

Chief Sealth and Denny International Middle School are down the hill from where the shooting happened. Students were released from school an hour after the shooting. Dozens of students walking alone or in groups passed the active crime scene.

“I feel like they should at least text the parents if their kid is at the school,” said Monica Sayers, who lives in the area, said. “Whether it’s at the middle or high school there should be some type of like an amber alert or something to the people that live there.”

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Brooke Bridgeford’s son attends Denny International Middle School but he stayed home on the day of the shooting

She said she got no communication from the school about the shooting.

“I’m surprised I didn’t get that,” said Bridgeford said.

Sheila Guarin-Juta, who has lived in the area for 30 years, believes she’ll have to pay more attention while she’s out in her neighborhood now.

“Usually, I’m not that scared but now it’s like it’s alarming and I have to be more aware of my surroundings before I walk around,” she said.

Protest in West Seattle

West Seattle students walked out of their school Monday to show support for Adam’s family.

Hundreds of students gathered outside of Chief Sealth for the protest.

At the demonstration, the victim’s older sister, older brother, uncle, religious leaders, elected officials, and the school principal spoke to the public about safety measures.

About an hour into the demonstration, students, loved ones, and supporters marched up Southwest Thistle Street toward the Teen Life Center where the boy died.

Editors’ note: This story was first published on Tuesday, Jan. 23. It has been updated and republished multiple times since then.

Contributing: Steve Coogan, MyNorthwest; KIRO 7; Sam Campbell, KIRO Newsradio