On the evening of May 23, 2020, Christopher Wilson Jr., a 35-year-old male, was fatally shot in the parking lot of a Safeway grocery store in the Rainier Beach neighborhood of Seattle, Washington. A large group had gathered in the parking lot when a disturbance broke out, leading to gunfire. Wilson was one of two men shot during the incident; the other victim was identified as 23-year-old Christopher Roberts Jr.
Seattle Fire Department medics responded to the scene and transported both men, but they succumbed to their injuries before reaching Harborview Medical Center. The King County Medical Examiner's Office later confirmed that Wilson's death was a homicide caused by a gunshot wound to the torso.
The investigation into the double homicide led to the arrest of 18-year-old Tayjuan Trevion Fletcher on June 7, 2020. Fletcher was apprehended in Federal Way with the assistance of U.S. Marshals and a Valley SWAT team. He was booked into the King County Jail on charges including investigation of homicide and unlawful possession of a firearm, with bail set at $1 million. The shooting was reportedly preceded by an argument related to a gang.
In August 2024, Tayjuan Fletcher was found guilty of two counts of second-degree murder while armed with a firearm for the deaths of Christopher Wilson Jr. and Christopher Roberts Jr. Witnesses identified Fletcher as the shooter, with one stating she was "110% sure" it was him. Investigators found twelve. 45 caliber casings at the scene. The family of Christopher Wilson Jr. filed a lawsuit against Safeway and its security provider, alleging negligence in ensuring the safety of the parking lot, which had a history of violent crime. The lawsuit resulted in a $17 million settlement. Christopher Wilson Jr. was a father of six children.
