LYNNWOOD, Wash. — Family and friends of 13-year-old Jayda Woods-Johnson, the teenager shot and killed at Alderwood Mall are grieving and outraged.
According to police, Woods-Johnson was not the intended target but rather a victim caught in the gunfire.
Investigators said a fight between people she did not know ended with gunfire. A 16-year-old boy was identified as the suspected shooter. He was turned in by his mother hours after the shooting. The suspect was released on bail.
"Less than 24 hours he was released. $50,000 on bail," said Cheryl Huffman, a family friend speaking on their behalf.
Huffman said they're praying justice will be served.
"We're talking about an innocent 13-year-old girl, minding her own business, doing what girls do," Huffman said.
An online fundraiser to help with Woods-Johnson's funeral expenses has surpassed its $40,000 goal.
How a judge decides to grant bail
Lauren Wegener, a criminal defense attorney not associated with this case, said judges weigh a lot of factors when deciding whether or not to grant bail to a suspect.
"The judge has a lot of discretion to determine whether or not they release somebody on bail or they keep somebody in jail," Wegener said.
Wegener said judges use Court Rule 3.2 to help them decide when to grant an individual bail. The rule takes a lot of factors into consideration.
"Does this person have criminal history?" Wegener said. "Do they have familial support? Community support? Are they a flight risk? Danger to the community? Likely they'll commit another dangerous offense? This is what the judge considers."
Wegener said she understands the reasoning behind why the suspected shooter was granted bail and will not comfort those who love Woods-Johnson. However, she said this is the legal system at work.
"Under the Constitution, we have the right to be presumed innocent," Wegener said.
According to the Snohomish County Prosecutor's Office, a future hearing for the suspected shooter has not been scheduled.