The victim in a drive by shooting in Renton last week has been identified as a 16-year-old Renton resident.
The young man was named Adan Gedi and confirmed by Renton School District to be a high school student.
Gedi was in the backseat of a stolen vehicle, around 8:30 p.m., Feb. 6, traveling northbound near the 300 block of Rainier Avenue South when multiple rounds were shot into the vehicle. After driving to Seattle, the driver realized Gedi had been killed and called 911, according to Renton Police Department. The vehicle and several bullet casings found on Rainier Avenue South were impounded to evidence. The driver had no information on the shooter.
Renton School District Spokesperson Randy Matheson confirmed Gedi was a student in Renton School District. He stated in an email that the school Gedi attended received additional counselors and outside community organizations were also there to offer support to the school community.
On Friday, Feb. 7, a Renton High School Resource Officer made a public post on his Facebook page about grieving a student he knew and saw in the halls. He said he talked with him on a frequent basis and was deeply saddened to know a 16-year-old’s life was taken too soon. He also stated that he hopes young people in the community will stand up and say “enough is enough” to the normalization of lives lost to youth gun violence.
“As the news spreads this morning as students awake to their instant feedback lives of social media, a family is mourning. A family that is now and will forever be changed because of someone’s careless regard for someone else’s life,” The officer stated in his post. “As the news is passed through the halls this morning a connection and web of friends, classmates, teachers and staff who all knew him, and interacted with him will be in disbelief and sorrow.”
Teenagers today, he stated, are going through more than he can sometimes comprehend.
A GoFundme has been created to help Gedi’s family. So far 157 people have donated $4,932 towards the $5,000 goal. The Renton Reporter has reached out to the fundraiser organizers and will update the story online as more information on who Gedi was is available.
Renton police are asking for the public’s help on information related to this incident, as of Monday Feb. 10 the officers were still trying to identify suspects. Contact cedwards@rentonwa.gov or 425-430-7632 and reference Case 20-1531.
Anyone interested in donating to Gedi’s family can visit https://www.gofundme.com/f/please-donate-to-help-the-family-while-they-grieve
