A 17-year-old student at Garfield High School in Seattle, Washington lost his life after being shot while attempting to break up a fight outside the school on Thursday afternoon, June 6, 2024. The incident has left the community reeling and has sparked a manhunt for the shooter.
The victim, identified as Amarr Murphy, was known for his peacemaking nature and bright future. Reggie Witherspoon, Murphy’s football coach, described him as a dedicated and hard-working young man. “When I heard the news, I was devastated,” Witherspoon said. “Amarr was always trying to help others.”
According to Seattle Police Deputy Chief Eric Barden, the altercation began between several high school-aged students around 12:30 p.m. local time. Murphy stepped in to calm the situation, but one of the original combatants produced a firearm and shot Murphy several times in the chest. The suspect, identified as a high school-aged male dressed in a red hoodie, light-colored pants, and white shoes, escaped the scene and is still at large.
“We believe our victim attempted to intervene and break up the fight,” Barden stated. “Following that, another altercation occurred, and the suspect shot multiple rounds at our victim.” Despite efforts to save him, Murphy died from his injuries at Harborview Medical Center.
The shooting led the Seattle School District to stagger the release of students and place Garfield High School and nearby schools on lockdown as a precaution. Classes were canceled on Friday and Monday, with plans to resume on Tuesday, June 11.
Outside Garfield High School on Thursday afternoon, parents expressed their concerns while waiting for their children to be released from lockdown. Christle Young, who was there to drop something off for her freshman son, decided it would be his last day at Garfield. “We relocated from New Orleans to provide him with a safer environment and a better life. So, I’ll do whatever it takes to protect him,” Young stated. She recounted running toward the gunshots and administering CPR to the victim until the police arrived.
Another parent, Anjali Rao, voiced similar worries about safety outside the school. “I don’t have any issues with my son attending this school,” Rao said. “However, I worry about his safety outside the school, especially during his morning soccer practice. I wish more measures were in place to ensure the kids’ safety outside.”
This tragedy marks the second shooting at Garfield High School this year. In March, another student was shot in the leg while waiting at a bus stop near the school. The recurrent violence has raised concerns about student safety in the community. Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell and interim Police Chief Sue Rahr have expressed their commitment to enhancing school security measures to protect students and residents.
Friends and family have set up a GoFundMe campaign to support Murphy’s funeral expenses. Coach Witherspoon shared his memories of Murphy’s resilience and determination, highlighting his achievements on and off the football field. “Murphy battled through an injury to make the varsity team and was gearing up for his senior year,” Witherspoon recalled. “He was a talented and dedicated young man.” The fundraising campaign has raised over $15,000.
The Seattle Police Department’s homicide unit is leading the investigation and is urging anyone with information about the incident to come forward. The community remains in shock, mourning the loss of a promising young life taken too soon by senseless violence.
