SEATTLE — A Kent man has been indicted by the U.S. Attorney's Office in connection with the mass shooting at a Seattle hookah lounge that left three people dead and six others injured in August of 2023. They're among the first charges stemming from this case.
Khaliil Ahmed, 26, has been charged with illegally possessing firearms at the time of the shooting.
While investigators have not publicly identified who pulled the trigger, the families of the victims are instead choosing to focus on the legacies of their departed loved ones, who are more than just a number.
One of the victims, Nadia Kassa, was just 30 years old when she was killed. This November, she would have turned 32. Ironically, the month of November has always been a special month for the Kassa siblings-- all sisters-- who grew up in Seattle: "All of us are born in November," said her sister Fedilla Kassa.
This month, she said, "We'll be partnering with some local organizations in downtown Seattle."
This-- in an effort to ramp up their efforts of giving back to those in need, in the name of their late sister.
"She went above and beyond for everybody. Everybody," said Fedilla Kassa.
On the last Saturday of the month, she said, "We'll be doing a food drive in honor of her."
They will also distribute hot meals the next day as a part of Nadia's Promise, an organization her sisters are working to establish as a 501(c)(3). Their efforts focus on the homeless and anyone in need.
"Nadia would feed the homeless annually during Ramadan," said Fedilla Kassa. "We do exactly what she did."
Her family, friends and loved ones are also gathering donations to support the people of Nadia Kassa's homeland of Tigray in Ethiopia, where they are building a women's clinic in honor of Nadia, one that specifically helps pregnant women and children.
"Nadia really loved children, so we're there as soon as they're born to try to give them the best start that a child could possibly have," said Fedilla Kassa.
Fedilla Kassa believes her sister's looking down proudly on their efforts to help others as part of her legacy.
"We're doing everything we can just to make sure that another family doesn't have to go through what we've gone through," said Fedilla Kassa.
When it comes to the investigation, Kassa said, "We really do have faith that things will play out the way that they need to."
The charges against Ahmed were announced on Oct. 31 as part of "the largest coordinated" drug and weapons bust ever conducted by Seattle’s Homeland Security Office, according to authorities.
In the Kassa sisters' Muslim faith, doing charity in the name of their late loved ones is believed to "accumulate good deeds for them in the afterlife," according to the website for Nadia's Promise.
They are currently accepting donations on this website. They are also accepting volunteers for their food drive and distribution efforts.
"If you want to participate in any of this, please get a hold of us. We welcome any more support that the community has to offer," said Fedilla Kassa.
You can contact them at nadiakassafoundation@gmail.com.