EDMONDS — In a letter to the victim’s family, a pedestrian who shot an Uber driver to death on Edmonds Way last month said he deeply regretted his actions, according to new charges filed in Snohomish County Superior Court.
On Friday, prosecutors charged Alex Waggoner , 21, with second-degree murder in the fatal shooting of Abdulkadir Shariff Gedi in January. Gedi was the fourth homicide death in Snohomish County in a weeklong series of shootings around New Year’s Day.
“I know this letter might not mean anything to you, but I deeply regret what I’ve done to your loved one,” Waggoner reportedly wrote in a letter to Gedi’s family. “No amount of money or time will reset this and I am well aware of that but I still prefer to do anything in my power to help any way I can.”
Waggoner’s attorney was listed in court papers as Jeffrey Wolfenbarger. He did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Around 10:20 p.m. Jan. 3, witnesses saw Waggoner crossing the street at the intersection of Edmonds Way and 236th Street SW when Gedi, driving in his car, nearly struck him, according to charging papers. Dash camera footage reportedly showed Gedi roll down his window to apologize to the defendant.
According to the charges, Waggoner quickly pulled out a gun and shot into Gedi’s car. Then he ran off, police said.
Officers arrived to find Gedi in the driver’s seat with multiple gunshot wounds, charges say. He was taken to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, where he later died from his injuries. He was 31.
Police found 11 shell casings near the crosswalk. The car had been hit nine times.
A week after the shooting, police arrested Waggoner outside his apartment. He was carrying two loaded pistols and was wearing body armor at the time of his arrest, police said. Waggoner reported one of the guns found on him was the one he used to shoot Gedi.
In an interview with police, Waggoner said he didn’t remember how many shots he fired, but thought he emptied the magazine,according to court papers. He reported he was “scared” when the car nearly hit him, but he “grossly overreacted” and was sorry for what he did, charges say.
Waggoner did not have any prior felony convictions. In 2020, police arrested Waggoner for misdemeanor domestic violence assault, according to investigators. Waggoner has been involved in numerous Edmonds police calls, mostly over domestic disputes with his girlfriend and behavioral health issues, police said.
Gedi was a beloved member and volunteer of the Abubakr Islamic Center in Tukwila. At the mosque, Gedi was remembered for his kindness.
“No words can describe how horrible I feel about this and I wish I could take that day back,” Waggoner wrote in his letter. “I am just so sorry and I don’t know if I can fix anything.”
This week, the defendant remained in Snohomish County Jail with bail set at $1 million.
Maya Tizon: 425-339-3434; maya.tizon@heraldnet.com; Twitter: @mayatizon.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
