SEATTLE — There have been no arrests, charges, or named suspects in the killing of Antonio Mays Jr. as of August 2026. Seattle police state the case remains active and ongoing.

Antonio Mays Jr. was killed at the Capitol Hill Occupied Protest (CHOP) zone in Seattle on June 29, 2020. He was 16 years old at the time of his death.

The shooting occurred shortly before 3 a.m. on June 29, 2020. The incident took place at Cal Anderson Park within the Capitol Hill Occupied Protest (CHOP) zone, which was a self-proclaimed autonomous neighborhood in Seattle.

Armed individuals guarding the protest zone shot all three occupants of a white Jeep. Protesters were tracking a stolen white Jeep that was driving erratically near the encampment. The white Jeep came within 10 feet of a tent, causing fear among protesters.

At 2:54 a.m., a security camera captured the white Jeep leaving the park and driving onto a side street. The white Jeep drove head-on toward an SUV driven by a CHOP security medic, who reversed to avoid a collision.

A silver Nissan Pathfinder appeared and occupants began firing gunshots at the white Jeep. Security camera footage shows a person in a Nissan Pathfinder firing a rifle at the white Jeep. A person wearing a bright white sweatshirt fired a handgun at the Jeep from the Pathfinder.

The Nissan Pathfinder chased the white Jeep down the street toward downtown Seattle while occupants continued firing. At least 15 shots were fired during the incident.

Antonio Mays Jr. was shot seven times. Robert West, age 14, was critically injured in the shooting. A third teenager in the vehicle was grazed by a bullet and fled the scene.

Livestreamer Diaz Love broadcast video announcing that shots had been fired at CHOP. PureSource News previously reported that Seattle Police Search for Suspect After Shooting Kills Three.

Antonio Mays Jr. left his Southern California home for Seattle on June 23, 2020. Antonio Mays Jr. had no known connections to Seattle prior to his arrival. Antonio Mays Jr. worked in his family's barbecue business.

Antonio Mays Jr. spoke publicly at CHOP three days before his death, addressing a city official and a crowd. CHOP existed for 23 days in 2020 as an eight-block collection of tents and protests. Seattle police abandoned the East Precinct after 10 days of mass protests following the murder of George Floyd. An armed, voluntary security force was established by protesters in the absence of police.

The lack of arrests six years after the fatal shooting shows the challenges in investigating violence that occurred within a self-proclaimed autonomous zone where standard police presence had been withdrawn. The Capitol Hill Occupied Protest existed for 23 days in 2020, representing a significant period without formal law enforcement oversight in that section of Seattle. This duration followed a 10-day period after Seattle police abandoned the East Precinct during mass protests.

The case involves multiple armed actors, including those guarding the protest zone and occupants of a separate vehicle, complicating the identification of responsible parties. Video evidence captures a chaotic pursuit involving a white Jeep and a silver Nissan Pathfinder, yet no suspects have been named. The incident resulted in the death of a teenager with no prior connections to the city and critical injuries to another minor, reflecting the lethal consequences of the armed security arrangements established in the absence of police.

Why It Matters

The absence of arrests six years after the shooting shows the investigative difficulties arising when voluntary armed groups replace formal law enforcement. The incident resulted in the death of a 16-year-old visitor and critical injuries to a 14-year-old during a 23-day period without police oversight in Seattle. This case illustrates the lethal consequences faced by minors within autonomous zones where standard legal protocols were suspended.