“We are  here today to make sure that people know that he was very well loved by his family and by his community. He graduated from Garfield High School and attended Eastern Washington, a real renaissance man and musician, inventor, and very spiritual person who brought peace and positive energy,” said Wyking Garrett about his uncle, 81 year old Thomas Joe Garrett who was killed in a hit and run on Monday, April 22nd just south of the intersection of SW Roxbury Street and 15th Ave SW in unincorporated White Center.

Garrett, who is the President and CEO of Africatown Land Trust was joined by friends and family as well as residents of the White Center neighborhood at the very intersection where his uncle was killed for a vigil to honor the life of Thomas Joe and as well call to improve safety at the intersection.  

“We just want to make sure that  his life, which ended physically right here at this corner of 15th and Roxbury, is not in vain, and that it can contribute to making this a safer intersection, and community. So we're joined today by family and friends and community members and leaders in the White Center community, to today begin the process of honoring his life, and legacy,”

King County Sheriff Office  Major Accident Response & Reconstruction (MARR) detectives are asking for the communities help in locating the fleeing vehicle. The suspected vehicle is described as a silver, 2007-2016 Jeep Compass with front-end damage to the grill and hood.

If you have any information about the incident or were in the area and may have dash camera footage, call 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), visit www.P3Tips.com, or use the P3 Tip App. Tips are anonymous.

Photos by  Jordan Somers on behalf of Converge Media