Seattle Identifies Two Teen Victims of Jan. 30 Rainier Beach Shooting
Updated (7 articles)
Shooting Occurred Near Two Schools on Jan. 30 At about 4 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 30, gunfire erupted at the intersection of Rainier Avenue South and South Henderson Street, directly adjacent to South Shore K‑8 and Rainier Beach High School; both teenagers were shot and died at the scene despite emergency responders’ efforts[7][6].
Two Teenagers Identified as Traveiah Houfmuse and Malik Stewart The King County Medical Examiner released the victims’ names on Feb. 5: 17‑year‑old Traveiah Houfmuse and 18‑year‑old Malik Stewart, both high‑school students, confirming earlier speculation that they attended Rainier Beach High[1].
Police Have No Arrests and Continue Seeking Suspect Seattle Police have not announced any arrests; the shooter fled on foot before officers arrived and detectives are urging anyone with information to call the violent‑crimes tip line (206‑233‑5000)[1][7].
Community Held Vigils and Demanded Ongoing Safety Plans A vigil on Feb. 1 gathered family, friends, officials, and school staff to honor the teens, with speakers urging the suspect to surrender and community members calling for lasting safety strategies; PTSA president Angelia Hicks Maxie emphasized the need for a permanent protection plan[6][2].
School District Shifted Schedules and Launched New Security Initiatives Beginning Feb. 2, schools in the Rainier Beach corridor delayed start times to provide counseling and wellness support, while new superintendent Ben Shuldiner announced single‑point entry systems, additional cameras, and increased police patrols as part of a broader safety overhaul[4][5].
Chief Barnes Highlights Record‑Low Homicides Amid Ongoing Challenges Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes reported that 2025 homicide numbers fell 36 % to a five‑year low, yet the weekend’s shootings—including the Rainier Beach teens and a later Pioneer Square killing—underscore persistent public‑safety concerns and his push to reinstate school resource officers[3][2].
Sources
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1.
King5: Two Seattle Teens Identified After Jan. 30 Shooting – Announces the victims’ names, Traveiah Houfmuse and Malik Stewart, and repeats police’s call for tips.
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2.
King5: Community mourns Rainier Beach teens killed in Friday shooting, demands lasting safety measures – Describes the Friday shooting, community vigil, and PTSA leader’s call for enduring safety strategies.
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3.
King5: Seattle police chief cites record‑low homicides amid weekend shootings – Highlights citywide crime declines, the three recent homicide victims, and the chief’s advocacy for school resource officers.
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King5: Seattle schools delay starts after fatal Rainier Beach shooting – Details delayed school start times, increased patrols, and superintendent Ben Shuldiner’s immediate response to the tragedy.
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King5: Seattle Schools Superintendent Sets Safety, Budget Priorities – Outlines Shuldiner’s security plan (single‑point entry, cameras) and budget reorganization following the shooting.
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6.
King5: Community Holds Vigil After Two Teens Killed Near Rainier Beach High School – Reports the Feb. 1 vigil, unidentified victims at the time, and community appeals for the suspect’s surrender.
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7.
King5: Teenagers Killed in Double Shooting Near Seattle Schools – Provides early details of the Jan. 30 incident, identifies victims as SPS students, and notes mayoral and police statements on the targeted nature of the attack.
Timeline
2025 – Seattle records its lowest homicide total in more than five years, a 36 % decline from 2024 and an 18 % drop in overall crime, marking the best safety metrics since before the pandemic [2].
Jan 30, 2026 – Two male teenagers are shot and killed at the intersection of Rainier Avenue South and South Henderson Street, near South Shore K‑8 and Rainier Beach High School; the suspect flees on foot and police treat the incident as a double homicide [7].
Jan 31, 2026 – Assistant Police Chief Tyrone Davis calls the shooting “targeted,” stresses it does not reflect the neighborhood’s character, and urges the community that there is no broader threat [7].
Feb 1, 2026 – Community members gather for a vigil at Rainier Beach High School; Daveon Montgomery tells KING 5, “they’re not bad people… they always have love for everyone,” honoring the slain teens [6].
Feb 1, 2026 – A separate shooting in Pioneer Square kills a young man, adding a third homicide to the weekend’s violence [2].
Feb 2, 2026 – Ben Shuldiner begins his term as Seattle Schools superintendent, describing the Rainier Beach shooting as “a tragedy of unspeakable proportions” and pledging integrated community safety efforts [4].
Feb 2, 2026 – Seattle Public Schools delays start times for South Shore PreK‑8 (10:55 a.m.) and for Rainier Beach High, Alan T. Sugiyama High and the Interagency Academy (≈12:30 p.m.) to provide wellness and stabilization supports [4].
Feb 2, 2026 – Superintendent Shuldiner unveils a security plan that adds single‑point entry, upgraded fencing and additional surveillance cameras to protect students at school entrances and bus stops [5].
Feb 2, 2026 – Seattle Public Schools coordinates increased police patrols throughout Rainier Beach for the coming week to enhance neighborhood safety [4].
Feb 3, 2026 – Police chief Shon Barnes notes Seattle’s 2025 homicide drop but warns the teen deaths and Pioneer Square shooting show work remains; he urges the return of high‑school resource officers, saying “no high school has had a resource officer in over five years” [2].
Feb 3, 2026 – Barnes announces plans to station neighborhood resource officers downtown and near the 12th‑and‑Jackson intersection, and credits the Real Time Crime Center’s 60‑camera network as a “game changer” for solving cases [2].
Feb 3, 2026 – Homicide detectives are assigned to the weekend shootings and the department emphasizes its violent‑crimes tip line for public assistance [3].
Feb 3, 2026 – PTSA president Angelia Hicks Maxie demands lasting safety measures, declaring “Enough is enough” and calling for a strategy that protects children beyond reactive responses [1].
Feb 4, 2026 – King County Medical Examiner releases the identity of one victim, 15‑year‑old Traveiah Houfmuse, confirming she was a high‑school student [1].
Feb 5, 2026 – The examiner identifies the second victim as 18‑year‑old Malik Stewart, also a high‑school student [1].
Feb 5, 2026 – Seattle police continue to seek the fleeing suspect, urging anyone with information to call the Violent Crimes Tip Line at 206‑233‑5000 [1].