An 18-year-old Covington woman shot July 4 in Kent near Lake Meridian will not survive, according to her family and friends, who identified her as Maddie Goldsmith.
Goldsmith graduated in June from Kentwood High School.
A friend of Goldsmith’s family contacted the Kent Reporter that Goldsmith was on life support but has been pronounced brain dead and is being taken off life support Friday, July 7 and donating her heart, lungs, pancreas, kidneys and liver.
Kentwood High School Principal Samantha Ketover confirmed Goldsmith’s condition in a Friday, July 7 email to the Kentwood community that was provided to the Kent Reporter.
“I am writing today with tragic news,” Ketover said. “One of our 2023 graduates, Maddie Goldsmith, was the unintended victim of a shooting on the evening of July 4. It is known that Maddie will not survive. The family has asked for privacy and we will share information about Maddie’s celebration of life when it is available.”
Kent Police reported July 5 that Goldsmith and a 21-year-old Federal Way man were shot at about 10:30 p.m. July 4 in the area of 15200 SE 272nd Street, just east of where the city held its Fourth of July Splash at Lake Meridian Park.
One 911 caller said that his girlfriend had been shot in the head. Multiple 911 calls reported the shooting.
Officers arrived and located Goldsmith inside a vehicle. She was unresponsive, so the officers pulled her out and immediately began lifesaving measures including CPR and using an AED (automated external defibrillator). The officers were able to regain a pulse and Puget Sound Fire and medics arrived and took over medical care. Goldsmith was airlifted to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. Her injuries are significant and life-threatening, according to police.
A Federal Way man was found a short distance away with a gunshot wound to his thigh. Officers provided immediate medical aid, and then carried the man to the medical personnel at the original scene. This victim was alert and conscious, according to police. He was also airlifted to a local hospital.
Witnesses reported seeing unknown persons involved in an argument near the victim vehicle just prior to the shooting, according to police. Initial information indicates that the victim vehicle may not have been involved in the argument.
The only suspect descriptions given were “young males seen running from the area,” according to police.
Ketover offered advice to parents in her email about dealing with the tragedy.
”We encourage you to have a conversation with your child about this today,” Ketover said. “Ours is a remarkably diverse community with many faiths, cultural and family traditions that navigate these types of situations differently. We want to show all due respect by allowing you to approach this situation in the manner you feel best suited for your child.
“Experience tells us children deal with situations such as these in very different ways and you should pay attention to your child’s behavior and mood during this challenging time. Some will want to discuss the event in detail and with great emotion. Others may withdraw or even have trouble sleeping. Let us know if we can help connect you with one of the resources available to navigate this event.
“Kentwood is a special community composed of amazing individuals. Maddie is one of those amazing individuals whose smile and spirit brought joy to many.
“In these challenging times, it is important that we take a moment to connect with one another as humans. We are interconnected relational beings. We encourage you to connect with your loved ones and to be there for each other.”
As of the afternoon of July 7,Kent Police have not provided any updates to the shooting. No arrests have been made.
12th homicide of 2023
This will mark the 12th homicide in Kent in 2023, according to numbers compiled by the Kent Reporter from the Kent Police Department and King County Medical Examiner’s Office. Four of the homicides were in June. Kent had 11 homicides in 2022, 14 in 2021, eight in 2020, four in 2019 and seven in 2018.
Editor’s note: This story has been updated with the correct organ donation list.
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