Kent Police arrest man, 18, in fatal shooting of 13-year-old boy

Published 6:06 pm Friday, July 19, 2024

A judge found probable cause against an 18-year-old Kent man for first-degree murder, attempted murder and first-degree robbery in the fatal shooting of a 13-year-old boy July 16 at a Kent park.

The robbery and shooting occurred after two males agreed on OfferUp to meet to sell and buy a camera and camera equipment and were accompanied by other juveniles, including the 13-year-old boy. OfferUp is an online marketplace with an app for people to set up in-person transactions.

Faysai Jafar Abdullahi had his first court appearance on Friday, July 19, according to the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. A judge set bail at $2 million. As of July 23, Abdullahi remained in custody at the King County Correctional Facility in Seattle, according to jail records.

Kent Police and Valley SWAT arrested Abdullahi July 18 at his home in the 12800 block of SE 275th Place, according to probable cause documents. Abdullahi willingly exited the house.

Detectives have been working the case after Matthew Stavkoviy died of a gunshot wound to the torso on the sidewalk near the Kentwood Apartments, 22415 Benson Road SE, according to court documents and the King County Medical Examiner’s Office.

Multiple 911 callers and witnesses reported that the shooting had occurred at Turnkey Park, 23300 100th Ave. SE, according to police. Witnesses said that a group of young males had fled on foot following the shooting. Officers investigated the area and determined that Matthew had been shot near the park, then transported to the apartment complex by another party. The park and the apartment complex are about 1 mile apart.

According to probable cause documents, Abdullahi and another male went to the park at about 8 p.m. after he agreed on OfferUp to pay $1,850 for a camera, accessories and a camera-carrying backpack from another male, accompanied by Matthew and three others.

As payment negotiation began, a third male came out of the park and pulled a pistol out of his sweatshirt, according to probable cause documents. The male selling the camera was pushed to the ground and the camera equipment was forcibly removed from him. The male heard three to four gunshots and ran to hide.

After seeing the man produce a gun, Matthew and his 15-year-old sister turned and ran toward their 4-wheel ATV with the intention to flee the area, according to court documents. As they mounted the ATV, they heard at least one gunshot come from behind them.

Matthew drove the ATV with his sister seated behind him. Matthew then told his sister he had been shot. They fled on the ATV and saw three males following behind them on foot.

Shortly after leaving the park, Matthew lost consciousness so his sister took over driving. She drove to the Kentwood Apartments where they sought help from a few residents who were outside. The residents called 911 to report the gunshot victim. Police and medics arrived, but Matthew died at the scene.

Detectives obtained a search warrant for the OfferUp account of the male selling the camera equipment, which revealed IP addresses for the messages sent by the buyer who met him at the park, according to probable cause documents. That led detectives to the address of Abdullahi.

Detectives conducted surveillance at the residence and reportedly saw a male exit the unit carrying the same camera-carrying backpack stolen at the park. He walked into a nearby residence and exited without the backpack. The male also wore similar clothing to what he wore at the park.

Search warrants were authorized for each address. Detectives found the stolen camera backpack containing some of the camera equipment at the nearby address to Abdullahi, according to probable cause documents. Detectives found additional stolen camera equipment and clothing that matched what Abdullahi wore inside his residence.

Abdullahi admitted to detectives to communicating and setting up the sale through OfferUp to buy a camera. He also admitted that three others came to the sale with him and one fired a gun at Matthew and the other ATV rider.

Prosecutors anticipate a case referral from Kent Police by July 23 for a charging decision, according to Casey McNerthney, spokesperson for the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.

McNerthney said prosecutors do not have cases for co-defendants in the investigation but that may be part of an ongoing police investigation.

Editor’s note: This story has been updated with court document information that the rider on the ATV with Matthew was his 15-year-old sister.