In a heartbreaking development, the family of 17-year-old Amari Murphy Payne has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Seattle Public Schools. Amari was shot and killed on the campus of Garfield High School last June, a place where any teenager should feel safe. Less than a year after this tragic event, his family has come forward with accusations that the school district failed to protect their son and other students from the growing threat of violence.
A Day That Should Have Been Safe
On the day of the shooting, Amari was at Garfield High School, going about his usual day. The shooting occurred during lunchtime, a time when students typically gather and socialize. Amari was walking near the school’s performing arts center when he overheard a fight breaking out. Rather than ignoring the danger, Amari stepped in, trying to break up the altercation. He had no involvement in the fight itself, yet he became an unintended victim when a shooter, who police say was one of two men in sweatshirts involved in the incident, fired a fatal shot. Despite efforts to save him, Amari died a few hours later.
His family described him as their “voice of reason,” a young man who cared deeply about others and tried to prevent violence rather than escalate it. The grief and pain of losing such a caring son have fueled their determination to seek justice.
Allegations of Negligence and Failure to Protect
The lawsuit details serious concerns about the safety conditions at Garfield High School and criticizes Seattle Public Schools for ignoring what they describe as clear warning signs about gun violence on campus and in its vicinity. The family argues that the school district had a duty to protect Amari and all students, a duty they failed to uphold.
One particularly alarming incident noted in the lawsuit occurred just hours before the fatal shooting. A student wearing a ski mask reportedly threatened a teacher multiple times with an airsoft rifle but managed to escape without being stopped. The suit claims that no staff members called 911 during this incident, which violates the school’s own policies that mandate such reports. This raises questions about the adequacy and enforcement of safety protocols on campus.
Rising Concerns Over School Safety
The lawsuit highlights broader issues that have been developing over the past few years. Seattle police responded to at least nine reports of dangerous weapons on school grounds between 2020 and 2024. These years coincide with the period after the district banned school resource officers—law enforcement personnel assigned to schools to maintain safety. The removal of these officers, combined with open campus policies and what the lawsuit calls inadequate security measures, has led to increased vulnerabilities for students.
The family and their legal team contend that the district’s decisions have created an unsafe environment, leaving students exposed to risks that could have been prevented or mitigated.
Calls for Recognition and Justice
Amari’s family feels that both the school and police authorities have downplayed the severity of his death, categorizing it as just another gang-related shooting rather than recognizing it as a school shooting. They believe this misclassification hinders the urgency and type of response needed to address the problem effectively.
The family insists that Amari’s death should be acknowledged for what it was—a tragedy occurring in a place that should be a sanctuary for learning and growth. They want Seattle Public Schools to be held accountable for the failure to ensure campus safety and to implement stronger measures that can protect students from violence in the future.
Ongoing Search for Justice and Answers
The individual who shot Amari has not been apprehended, and the community remains anxious about the ongoing threat to safety. Currently, there is a $5,000 reward for any information that can lead to identifying and capturing the killer. The hope is that this incentive will encourage witnesses or anyone with knowledge about the crime to come forward.
Seattle Public Schools’ website states that the safety of students and staff is its top priority. However, the lawsuit paints a different picture—one of a school environment plagued by unresolved safety issues and a lack of adequate response to dangerous incidents.
As the legal process unfolds, the family’s pursuit of justice underscores the urgent need for schools to re-examine their policies and take decisive action to protect students. Amari Murphy Payne’s death is a painful reminder of the real consequences of inadequate school security and the human cost when that duty of care is neglected.
