Reporting By Cesar Canizales

It was an emotional return to the Rainier Beach Safeway for the Boys and Girls Club of King County team that was present during a shooting that wounded five people nearly two weeks ago. The group’s leader addressed the community and media for the first time since the shooting.

Two of the team members were wounded during the incident. But that is not deterring the group from wanting to restart their weekly community events.

“These guys told me they're ready to come back and fight. They've shared with me. Yes, we've taken a hit. We've taken a blow,” said Marty Jackson, executive director of the SE Network, Boys & Girls Club. “And I have to say this, when I sat with the team yesterday and learned about what all transpired in this parking lot that night, I was so proud because even though the leader of this team was shot, he was running around trying to see who we could help.

Jackson said the Safeway parking lot has served as a gathering place—a refuge and a place to heal for the community since June 2020. The group launched the weekly events in the aftermath of a shooting that left two young people dead at the same location. The July 28 shooting was the first incident since then.

“We got parents burying their children. I have four children and two grandchildren. It breaks my heart to see mothers crying, siblings crying because they got to bury their children,” Jackson said.

Jackson said the Friday night gatherings serve meals for neighbors and provide resources for them.

“We wanted a space that would be sacred for our community to grieve, for our community to heal, heal from all of this trauma, from gun violence, from community violence,” Jackson said.

Jackson said she wished the people responsible for the shooting had sought help.

“I wish for whatever it is you're hurting for that we could have intervened, that we could have hugged you, that we could have loved on you, that we could have given you something. I wish we could have known,” Jackson said. “Whatever it is you're going through that caused you to spray this whole parking lot and not have any regard for for these people behind me and other people in the space, I hope that you hear me today and know that we love you and we care about you. We need you to be healed.”

Eunice Antoine attends the Friday night community events, but he wasn’t there the night of the shooting. He implored the shooters to talk it out, instead of resorting to violence.

“Violence, especially gun violence, is not the answer,” Antoine said. “There's other alternatives to this, you know, you got to really to strive to want a different alternative and to talk your problem out. There's plenty of people to talk to.”

Antoine said he appreciates the group’s willingness to come back to speak to the community and is looking forward to the Friday night events.

“They feed our family. They give us strength, love, motivation, encouragement. You know, you need someone to talk to. They're available for that,” said Antoine.

Jackson said the group will come back soon to the Safeway to gather with the community, but a firm date for the return has not been set.

She said it will take everyone doing their part to heal.

“It takes this community. It's going to take law enforcement. It's going to take our public officials. It's going to take our youth. It's going to take our schools,” Jackson said. “It's going to take all of you to start sharing narratives that are positive so our kids can be proud of where they come from. It's going to take all of us.”