LYNNWOOD — An Edmonds teen posted $500,000 bond Thursday, the day after police arrested him in the fatal shooting of a 13-year-old girl in Alderwood Mall, officials said.
A hearing had not been set in juvenile court for the boy, 16, as of Friday. On Wednesday, Lynnwood police said the teen was detained for investigation of murder, but it was unclear what exact charge authorities booked him on.
Denney Juvenile Justice Center officials were unable to provide a police report on the shooting.
Police identified the deceased as Jayda Woods-Johnson. As of Friday afternoon, an online fundraiser had raised over $20,900 to cover her family’s funeral and living expenses.
“Jayda was SO full of energy and life; was infectious with laughter, the biggest music and movie fanatic I ever knew,” the fundraiser read. “Seriously, at 13, I’m convinced she’s seen every movie ever made.”
She was survived by her parents and two younger siblings.
Her parents released a statement Friday through the Lynnwood Police Department.
“A quiet Jayda was rare, as she was a firecracker that could light up any room she was in,” the statement read. “Infected everyone around her with laughter and playfulness. She was the type of person to roll down a grassy hill and get everyone else to follow.”
On Wednesday, Woods-Johnson went to the mall with her friends, “like any 13-year-old would,” according to the fundraiser.
Around 6 p.m., a fight between two groups broke out in the mall’s food court, KOMO reported that night. The suspect pulled out a gun and fired at the other group, hitting Woods-Johnson who wasn’t involved in the fight. She was rushed to the hospital.
Police reported both groups fled the scene after the shooting. The mother of the teen suspect later brought her son to police, according to authorities.
Police booked the suspect into the Denney Juvenile Justice Center, where he spent the night behind bars.
Around 11 p.m. Wednesday, police announced Woods-Johnson died from her injuries.
“She was somewhere that should’ve been safe,” the fundraiser read. “Somewhere that we’ve all been as teens as a first ‘outing’ into the world without our parents.”
Alderwood Mall was closed Thursday. Signs on the doors apologized for the inconvenience.
Maya Tizon: 425-339-3434; maya.tizon@heraldnet.com; Twitter: @mayatizon.
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