The mother of the Alderwood Mall shooting victim spoke out about her daughter following her tragic death.
Brittani Woods said her 13-year-old daughter Jayda Woods-Johnson was shopping with her best friend and her best friend’s mother on Wednesday before she was shot and killed.
According to Lynnwood police, two groups of teenagers got into an altercation at the food court, during which a teenage boy pulled out a gun and fired at least once.
The mother of 13-year-old Jayda Woods-Johnson, who was shot and killed at Alderwood Mall on Wednesday, spoke out about her daughter. Police said Jayda was innocent. On @KIRO7Seattle at 5 o’clock you will hear from the mother and her incredible display of self-control/resilience after the tragic death of her daughter photo.twitter.com/i9A532LDjZ
— Louie Tran (@louie_tran) July 4, 2024
“I just wanted to die. I feel like it’s not real. I still feel like it’s not real,” Woods said.
According to police, Jayda was an innocent victim and was not involved in the altercation or with either group.
“I love her so much. She was too young to go. She didn’t deserve this,” Woods said. “Why did she have to be the one standing there when it happened? Even if she had moved just a few feet to the left or right, she wouldn’t be there.”
Woods told KIRO 7 News that her daughter was so excited about the idea of spending time with her best friend at the mall that she stayed up the night before to lay out her outfit.
“Stayed up until 1 a.m. doing her laundry. So she could go to the mall the next day,” Woods said. “Got dressed for the day, even though they didn’t go to the mall until 3:30, and she was super excited to go to the mall. Go to the photo booth and look at clothes.”
Woods described her daughter as funny, outgoing, smart and always cheerful.
She said her daughter was the eldest of six children and was a great role model for them.
Police report that the suspect’s mother later handed her son over to police.
The 16-year-old boy from Edmonds is being held for murder, police said.
KIRO 7 News has reached out to the Lynnwood Police Department and Snohomish County Prosecutor’s Office for more details on the investigation. We are still awaiting response.
