Police said no arrests had been made after the killing at The Growler Guys on Lake City Way Northeast.
SEATTLE, WA — Seattle police are investigating after a young employee was found fatally shot Saturday morning inside The Growler Guys, a beer garden and restaurant in North Seattle’s Lake City area.
The killing brought homicide detectives to the 8500 block of Lake City Way Northeast, where coworkers arrived to open the business and found the victim inside shortly before 9 a.m. Police said the man had apparent fatal gunshot wounds. Seattle Fire Department medics pronounced him dead at the scene.
Police had not publicly released the victim’s name as of Sunday, but KING 5 identified him as 26-year-old Quusaa Margarsa, known to friends and coworkers as Q. Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes said at the scene that the victim was an employee and that investigators were still working to learn when the shooting happened and what led to it. “How can we make sure that we’re doing everything in our power to bring justice to this family, because quite frankly, they deserve it,” Barnes said.
Officers cordoned off the business after the report of a man down and waited for homicide detectives and crime scene investigators to process the taproom. Police said the medical examiner would take custody of the body and determine the official cause and manner of death. Investigators said there was no suspect information and no arrests had been made. The case was logged by police under incident number 2026-128874.
Kelly Dole, owner of The Growler Guys, said the employee had worked at the business for about a year and was close with Dole’s son and other young men in the community. Dole said the employee closed the business Friday night, left, and returned several hours later. Police have not confirmed that timeline or said whether anyone followed him. “It is far too early in the investigation to understand what happened,” Detective Eric Munoz said. “We can’t speak on motive. We don’t have those whys yet.”
The Growler Guys sits near Northeast 85th Street and 20th Avenue Northeast in a busy stretch of North Seattle businesses. By Saturday, dozens of relatives, friends and customers gathered near the taped-off scene. Some cried outside the business while investigators worked inside. Barnes said the killing marked Seattle’s 12th homicide of the year. Police also said people in the area could expect an increased police presence while detectives continued the investigation.
Memorials grew outside the business Sunday, with flowers, cards and notes left near the corner. One note was written by a family that said the victim had served them at the taproom. A child’s apple juice box was placed nearby. Coworkers said the employee often gave children free apple juice and joked, “Don’t tell my boss.” Dole described him as warm, light-hearted and hard to bring down. “The world lost someone important today,” Dole said.
Dole said the taproom would remain closed for the weekend and possibly longer while staff and the community grieved. He said the victim preferred hugs to handshakes and was known as a talented dancer. Friends, family members and regular customers described him as a family man, a friend to many and a standout worker. One nearby resident who did not give a name said he did not hear gunshots but called the death shocking.
Detectives were still searching for a suspect Monday and had not announced a motive. Police said they were reviewing evidence and surveillance from the area as part of the homicide investigation. The next milestone in the case is expected to come from police or the medical examiner as they release new findings.
Author note: Last updated Monday, May 11, 2026.