Gun violence protest draws hundreds to Chief Sealth
Gun violence protest draws hundreds to Chief Sealth
Death of 15 year old Mobarak Adam at SWAC is the second in the area in a year
Mon, 01/29/2024
The shooting death of Mobarak Adam, a 15 year old Chief Sealth student, at the SW Athletic Complex on January 23 prompted an outpouring of support for his family and brought hundreds to a protest at the school January 29.
The event had several people speak including his older sister, and older brother who thanked those gathered for their support but demanded that the Seattle Police release more information and any footage from body cams on the day of the shooting. Also on hand and speaking were newly elected District 1 City Council member Rob Saka and Aneelah Afzali, Exec. Dir. of the American Muslim Empowerment Network. The Principal at Sealth Ray Morales also spoke to the crowd.
The family was told that the camera that could have recorded the event at the Teen Life Center inside SWAC has been broken for more than a year, something Council member Saka confirmed he had heard too.
So far police have been tight lipped about the investigation but the family, in a petition on Change.org offered their version of events (though it has not been officially established as a homicide) stating:
Mobarak a, 15 year old kid who was born & raised in Seattle. A student who had a promising future. A loving son, brother & cousin. He was full of life & kindness, Never a dull moment with his beautiful contagious smile. But his life tragically & cruelly got cut short due to gun violence. His loss devastated a community both within and outside the United States, but has especially impacted his family who are forever scarred by thus senseless tragedy and are still in disbelief regarding his passing.
In the afternoon of January 23rd, 2024, Mobarak Adam was murdered after sustaining a gunshot wound in the bathroom near entrance of Southwest Teen Life Center in West Seattle, across the street from where he had attended, Chief Sealth international High school.
Shortly after Seattle Police Department (SPD) was dispatched to the scene where some say they found him alive & some are saying that he had passed away by the time medics arrived. They are stating that life saving measures were given to the victim along with staff, but he shortly passed after. According to the Seattle Police Department (SPD), officers responded to the 2800 block of SW Thistle St. at 1:26 p.m. However, the time of police arrival was not released, Which is very concerning to the Family. Seattle Police Department (SPD) & medical examiners haven't ruled anything as of now.
The Seattle Police Department is refusing to release any footage of anything containing helpful information of the shooting to the family, whether its from the moment they were dispatched & time stamps of when SPD team arrived to the scene. As to, including any potential dash cam footage, footage captured by surrounding businesses, witness footage or perhaps the school cameras. Family was told no camera footage was available in a recreation center with a pool, which is very concerning.
The protest concluded with a short march up the block to the temporary memorial now in place outside the SWAC. Many people carried signs demanding action from authorities with other bearing the simple message, "LLM" Long Live Mobarak.