EDMONDS, Wash. — Police are searching for a suspect who fired a gun at a moving vehicle, striking and killing the driver, in Edmonds Wednesday night.
Multiple witnesses told police they saw the suspect, who was on foot, fire several shots into a vehicle near the intersection of 236th Street Southwest and Edmonds Way just around 10:15 p.m.
“The driver was making a left-hand turn. For reasons unknown, those two intersected and the pedestrian opened fire,” said Commander Josh McClure. "This is a unique circumstance. This is not people that knew each other or had history that we can tell.”
The victim who was in that car was transported to the hospital and died from his injuries. According to police, the victim was a rideshare driver, although it is unknown if he was on duty at the time of the shooting.
The family of the victim and the Seattle Rideshare Driver’s Association confirmed to KING 5 the man killed is 31-year-old Abudulkadir Shariff Gedi.
The Seattle Rideshare Driver’s Association said he’s been a driver since 2015 and a member since 2018.
Gedi’s family and faith community are mourning his loss.
“It's very devastating. The father is in shock. When we talked to him, it was really a big shock, losing his son. He was a man who always volunteered at the mosque, and in fact, he used to love feeding birds at the mosque,” Mumin said.
Mumin said Gedi was on the clock for Uber when the shooting happened and is growing concerned about drivers' safety.
“It's becoming more increasing, and we don't know why the rideshare drivers are being targeted? This is something of concern to us,” Mumin said.
The Seattle Rideshare Driver’s Association is calling on the state to improve driver safety, and wants a rideshare victim’s fund because families of those who are killed have to fundraise to pay for their funerals.
“He was a very great man, very well loved and respected in the community,” said Ahmed Mumin, executive director of the Seattle Rideshare Driver’s Association.
Police are still searching for the suspect, who was last seen headed eastbound on 236th Street. Officers launched a drone to help them with their search. The suspect is described as a male in his teens to early 20s with curly dark hair and was last seen wearing a hoody and all-back clothing, according to Edmonds police. He is considered armed and dangerous.
“We're four days into the new year and we're having to deal with this in Edmonds,” said McClure. “We need somebody to come forward. It's the right thing to do, and some other family is grieving because their family member tried to make a left turn. So, we need some help on this one.”
Police said there was no "obvious altercation" between the victim and the suspect.
“This type of incident shakes a community, and it is difficult for all of us to fathom. We are aggressively pursuing the person responsible for this senseless killing, and we will work tirelessly to get them off the streets to face justice. We know someone knows the suspect or knows something about this incident. To that person; please do the right thing and contact us," said Edmonds Police Chief Michelle Bennett.
Anyone who sees anything suspicious in that area or knows anything about the shooting is asked to call Edmonds police.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
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