In the early morning hours of May 23, 2024, a tragic event unfolded at the Creston Point Apartments in the Skyway neighborhood of Seattle, Washington. Ten-year-old Anfa Mahamud, a young girl, was asleep in her bed when a stray bullet pierced through the wall of her family's apartment, striking her in the head. The sound of gunfire was not entirely uncommon in the area, so neighbors did not immediately react until the commotion following the young girl's injury became apparent.
First responders received calls for help around 2:30 a.m. and rushed Anfa to the hospital in critical condition. Despite medical efforts, she succumbed to her injuries two days later, on May 25, 2024. Her death was ruled a homicide by the King County Medical Examiner's Office.
The senseless act of violence that claimed Anfa's life left her family heartbroken and the community in shock. Her father recalled the horrific moment the bullet entered their home, forever changing their lives. In the wake of the tragedy, the family made the difficult decision to move away from the apartment complex that held the painful memory of their daughter's final moments. Anfa was laid to rest on May 26, 2024, at the House of Mercy All Muslim Cemetery.
An investigation into the shooting led to the arrest of a suspect, 16-year-old Derreon Johnson. At the time of the incident, Johnson was reportedly on electronic home monitoring for prior charges. He was charged with second-degree murder and three counts of second-degree assault in connection with the shooting that resulted in Anfa's death. According to court documents, surveillance footage and witness statements implicated Johnson. Some witnesses even claimed that Johnson had bragged about shooting a "little girl."
In a subsequent court appearance, Derreon Johnson pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against him. His attorney argued that it was unclear who had fired the specific shot that killed Anfa. A judge set his bail at $2 million and ordered him to have no contact with Anfa Mahamud's family or the Creston Point Apartments. His trial was scheduled to begin in late October of the same year.
