On a Tuesday evening, May 23, 2017, a gathering of 30 to 40 people at Seattle's Alki Beach took a tragic turn. Amid the festivities, a disturbance erupted, shattering the peaceful atmosphere with the sound of multiple gunshots. When the chaos subsided, 23-year-old Jordan D. Thomas, a Black / African American male, was found on the ground with several gunshot wounds.
Emergency services were called to the scene near 62nd Avenue Southwest and Alki Avenue Southwest at about 9 p.m.
Thomas was rushed to Harborview Medical Center in critical condition, but he ultimately succumbed to his injuries. The King County Medical Examiner's Office later confirmed that he died from multiple gunshot wounds. Seattle police detectives investigating the case stated their belief that the shooting was not a random act and that Thomas had been targeted.
In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, law enforcement, with the assistance of the King County Sheriff's Office's air support, searched for a suspect vehicle described as a gray Grand Marquis. Despite these efforts, police did not publicly identify a suspect. The investigation into Jordan Thomas's death is ongoing, but it has grown cold over time. As of a year after the incident, no arrests had been made, and the case remains an unsolved homicide. The Seattle Police Department has encouraged anyone with information to contact their homicide tip line.
