Family of teenager shot in CHOP two years ago files claim against city of Seattle

SEATTLE — The family of a teenager shot and killed in the CHOP/CHAZ zone of Capitol Hill two years ago filed notice of a lawsuit and claim for damages on Monday.

Antonio Mays Jr., 16, was the second Black teenager to die in what became known as the Capitol Hill Organized Protest Zone, which was constructed by protestors following the murder of George Floyd by a police officer in Minnesota.

Evan Oshan, of Oshan and Associates, said Tuesday that city of Seattle and King County leaders, even Washington state’s governor, failed to protect Alexander Mays’ son.

Seattle police had abandoned the east precinct at the intersection of East Pine Street and 12th Ave.

The court papers — filed by Oshan on behalf of the Estate of Alexander Mays Jr. and his father Alexander Mays — claim a warlord, Raz Simone, was allowed to self-police the zone with weapons.

They say the city of Seattle created a dangerous situation and was deliberately indifferent. The claim doesn't specify a dollar amount.

“At this point we’re trying to figure out who let this horrible thing happen,” Oshan said. “Who let the precinct to be abandoned? Who let a 16-year-old kid to be essentially executed?”

A 14-year-old boy was also shot the night Mays Jr. died.

No one has been charged.

KOMO News reached out to the city for comment and has not heard back yet.