Antonio Mays Sr. held a poignant reminder of his lost son, Antonio Mays Jr., as he appeared in Superior Court at King County Courthouse in Seattle on December 10, 2025. The image captured by Ellen M. Banner for The Seattle Times tells a story of a family seeking answers.
In the early morning hours of June 29, 2020, racial justice demonstrators in Seattle faced chaos as a stolen white Jeep drove erratically near their encampment. This area, known as the Capitol Hill Occupied Protest (CHOP), encompassed a collection of tents and an atmosphere of constant vigilance following incidents of violence in the region. Nearly every night had ended with police deploying tear gas, resulting in police retreating and an unusual sense of peace among protesters who engaged in activities like movie nights, mutual aid stations, and speeches.
However, the serenity was shattered as shots rang out. An independent security force formed by protesters took matters into their own hands in the absence of police. Livestreamer Diaz Love captured the dire moment, noting the sound of gunfire as an erratic white Jeep circled the area. This narrative, suggesting that the Jeep’s occupants attacked racial justice protesters and were responded to in kind, persisted among social media users and within the community.
Tragically, 16-year-old Antonio Mays Jr. was killed, and 14-year-old Robert West was critically injured when the voluntary security at CHOP opened fire on the Jeep. Another unidentified teenager, also in the Jeep, managed to escape with a minor injury. Despite the existence of numerous videos and a comprehensive investigation by institutions including The Seattle Times, KUOW, and NPR, the case remains unsolved. No arrests or charges have been made.
A Journey to Seattle
Antonio Mays Jr. left his Southern California home on June 23, 2020, driven by the call to participate in racial justice protests nationwide. His motivation was deeply personal, rooted in the hope for a world where his sister would not face racial injustices. He arrived at CHOP without previous knowledge of or connections to Seattle and joined others in the now symbolically charged area to advocate for change.
Recorded in a video clip discovered the previous year, Antonio expressed a desire for better police training and accountability. Yet, three days after this public expression, he was fatally shot within a stolen Jeep under circumstances that remain clouded by multiple perspectives.
Panic at the Barricade
At 2:54 a.m., a security camera captured the white Jeep leaving Cal Anderson Park, narrowly avoiding a collision with another SUV driven by a CHOP security medic. Another vehicle, a silver Nissan Pathfinder, entered the scene with someone inside firing at the Jeep.
Footage shows individuals in the Nissan Pathfinder firing shots at the Jeep, further fueling the chaos. Forensic analysis revealed that no shots were fired from the Jeep, and subsequent visuals did not show evidence of guns among the Jeep’s occupants.
The Aftermath of the Shooting
The volatile events continued as protesters and volunteer medics approached the Jeep, attempting to administer aid. Robert West was taken to the hospital by private car, while Antonio Mays Jr., severely wounded, was loaded into a vehicle once used to fire at him. Confusion among emergency responders delayed Antonio’s arrival at a hospital, illustrating further difficulties in the aftermath.
When police eventually approached the scene, signs of tampering were evident. Bullet holes marred the white Jeep, but critical evidence appeared absent, hinting at interference by individuals present during and after the shooting.
Despite the chaotic scene, Seattle police have struggled to make progress in solving the case. A call for witnesses from the CHOP community remains unanswered as people refrain from sharing information, perhaps out of loyalty or fear.
Antonio Mays Jr., who came to Seattle with hopes for change, met a tragic end that still demands justice and clarity.
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