A 13-year-old girl was fatally shot at the Alderwood mall in Lynnwood on Wednesday evening, according to police.
Lynnwood police identified the girl as Jayda Woods-Johnson, and the suspect as a 16-year-old boy from Edmonds.
“He was brought in by his mother and is in custody,” police wrote on the social media platform X. He was expected to be booked into jail for investigation of murder.
Two groups of teenagers were in some kind of fight around 6 p.m. when someone fired a gun, hitting Woods-Johnson, who was not involved, said Lynnwood police Deputy Chief Patrick Fagan. A handgun, which has not been found, was used in the shooting, he said.
Woods-Johnson was taken to a hospital. People at the mall were told to shelter in place for a short amount of time.
An entrance to the mall was blocked off while police investigated. Anyone who witnessed the altercation is asked to contact Lynnwood police.
The mall announced Thursday that it would remain closed in reaction to the shooting death.
Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated the shooting took place Tuesday evening.