Police say an 18-year-old is in custody and a judge has found probable cause in the death of a 26-year-old Fall City man.
FEDERAL WAY, WA — Two brothers chased a man into a parking lot outside The Commons at Federal Way on the night before Thanksgiving, where the younger brother shot and killed him during a struggle around 10:15 p.m., according to police and initial court records.
Authorities say the confrontation began over a gun the brothers believed had been stolen from their grandfather. The shooting occurred in the 1900 block of South 320th Street, a busy retail corridor on one of the season’s heaviest shopping weeks. An 18-year-old suspect was arrested shortly after the gunfire, and a judge later found probable cause to hold him in the killing of a 26-year-old man whose last known address is in Fall City. Detectives are still reconstructing the chase and struggle, and prosecutors will decide on formal charges.
Police said an officer already patrolling near the mall heard the call and quickly spotted a suspect car leaving the area. After a short pursuit, the officer detained two people believed to be involved. Responding officers found the victim nearby and tried lifesaving measures, but he died at the scene. “Just shocked, sad for the people involved,” said Trever Jones, who works in the area and learned someone had been shot minutes after he left for the night. Another shopper, Alyssa Swimcicki, said the violence so close to holiday crowds was “shocking.” Investigators interviewed witnesses late into the night as crime scene tape ringed a stretch of asphalt between storefronts and light poles.
Court records reviewed by reporters say the brothers told detectives they believed the victim had taken their grandfather’s gun and that they drove to confront him. The documents state the younger brother admitted firing during a struggle because he feared his sibling would be hurt. Investigators say after the shooting, one brother took keys from the mortally wounded man’s pocket, unlocked the victim’s vehicle and retrieved the gun. Police have not publicly released the suspect’s name because charging decisions are pending. The King County Medical Examiner’s Office had not released the victim’s name as of Sunday. Detectives are still studying surveillance video from stores and parking-lot cameras to confirm the sequence of events.
The late-night killing adds to a string of high-profile parking-lot shootings in suburban King County in recent years and comes as holiday shopping fills lots across South King County. The Commons at Federal Way, a regional mall that draws shoppers from Federal Way, Kent and neighboring cities, has seen periodic police responses for isolated crimes, though officials say most incidents are minor. Federal Way police emphasized there was no ongoing danger to the public after the arrests and noted that an officer’s quick response helped contain the scene. Records show the call came in at about 10:17 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 26, as stores were closing or had just closed ahead of Thanksgiving.
Prosecutors will review the case for potential charges that could include murder. The 18-year-old suspect initially refused to appear at a first court hearing, but a judge found probable cause to hold him in custody. A bail hearing was scheduled for Saturday afternoon in King County; information on bail was not immediately available Sunday. Investigators are seeking additional witnesses, collecting digital evidence from phones and vehicles, and awaiting full autopsy findings from the medical examiner to establish the exact cause and manner of death. Police also plan to examine the recovered handgun and shell casings through ballistics databases.
Shoppers returned to the mall through the weekend as crews cleared evidence markers and removed police tape. “It’s heartbreaking for the families,” Jones said. “Any death is just sad.” Employees described patrol cars sweeping the lots more frequently since the shooting. Nearby store workers said they recognized the make of the suspect vehicle from security cameras but did not see the moments before the gunfire. Some customers paused at the edge of the lot where a cluster of candles briefly appeared, and workers said questions from regulars kept circling back to whether anyone else might be involved—something police have not indicated.
As of Sunday, police say the primary suspect remains in custody while detectives finish interviews and evidence reviews ahead of a charging decision expected early this week. The next public update is likely after prosecutors file charges and the court posts the hearing schedule.
Author note: Last updated November 30, 2025.