Parents and community members line the steps of Garfield High School's main entrance, Tuesday, June 11, to welcome students back less than a week after a student trying to break up a fight was shot and killed. (Photo: Susan Fried)

PHOTO ESSAY | We Are Here and We Care: Community Greets Garfield High Students in Wake of Fatal Shooting

Scores of concerned community members showed up at Garfield High School on Tuesday, June 11, to rally support for students stunned and grieving after a student was shot and killed on campus last week.

Published on:

Jun 12, 2024, 12:07 am

by Susan Fried and Phil Manzano

Amarr Murphy-Paine, who police say appeared to be trying to break up a fight Thursday afternoon, was shot as he was leaving by a person involved in the fight. Murphy-Paine, 17, died hours later at Harborview Medical Center, police said.

Classes were canceled Friday and Monday as Seattle Police continued their search for a suspect in the shooting. Although they searched the area Thursday, no one was found.

Tuesday's rally was organized by 100 Black Parents and Kun Salisbury. "We will meet on the front steps of Garfield High School at 8AM SHARP!" a Facebook announcement said. "Please be on time. We will have a quick orientation, fellowship, and prayer, then break out to cover different doors of the school and begin greeting students at 8:30 AM."

Parents and community members lined the steps leading up to the main entrance of the school on either side of a memorial to Murphy-Paine that had grown in the days since the shooting.

Mayor Bruce Harrell and Seattle Public Schools Superintendent Brent Jones were among the prominent City officials who welcomed students. Harrell decried the number and easy access to guns and weapons, a national problem, at a press conference on Thursday, June 6.

A group of people stands outside the Garfield High School entrance. In the foreground, two men in suits, both standing with their hands clasped, engage with students entering the building.

Mayor Bruce Harrell, an alum, and Seattle Public Schools Superintendent Brent Jones welcomed Garfield High students back on Tuesday, June 11. (Photo: Susan Fried)

A group of people stands on steps, clapping and observing. In the foreground, two individuals embrace, one wearing a jersey with

The pain and trauma of the Garfield High shooting reflected on the faces of adults who showed up to support grieving students. (Photo: Susan Fried)

A collection of items lies on the ground, including a folder labeled

At a growing makeshift memorial, one mourner left a folder with letters to Amarr Murphy-Paine, who police say was trying to break up a fight and was walking away when he was shot and later died at Harborview Medical Center. (Photo: Susan Fried)

A diverse group of people stands closely together, heads bowed in a moment of reflection or prayer. Some wear hoodies and rain jackets, while others hold umbrellas. One person wears a

Community members pause to pray as they gathered to greet returning Garfield High students. (Photo: Susan Fried)

A crowd gathers as two femme students place flowers among a colorful memorial adorned with paper cranes and bouquets. One student wears a hijab and backpack, while the other wears brown clothing. The onlookers, some holding cards or phones, appear solemn and supportive, surrounded by trees and greenery in the background.

Students drop flowers at a memorial for Amarr Murphy-Paine, a Garfield High student killed Thursday, June 6. (Photo: Susan Fried)

Three students stand behind a railing, looking down somberly. One person wears a New Orleans basketball jersey, another a black jacket, and a third peeks from behind with only their face visible. They are surrounded by lush greenery and trees, adding to the contemplative atmosphere.

Students arrive at Garfield High only days after a student was shot and killed on campus. (Photo: Susan Fried)

People gather around a memorial on Garfield High School's steps filled with flowers, candles, notes, and a teddy bear. One young man stands in front, head bowed and hands clasped. Others, wearing jackets and backpacks, observe quietly. Flags fly in the background, and the atmosphere is solemn and respectful.

A Garfield High student pauses with an offering he placed at a memorial for Amarr Murphy-Paine. (Photo: Susan Fried)

A memorial on steps features numerous flowers, candles, a teddy bear, and colorful paper cranes. Signs read

Since the shooting on Thursday, June 6, a question parents and community members are asking is reflected at the memorial for Amarr Murphy-Paine. (Photo: Susan Fried)

Susan Fried is a 40-year veteran photographer. Her early career included weddings, portraits, and commercial work — plus, she's been The Skanner News' Seattle photographer for 25 years. Her images have appeared in the University of Washington's The Daily, The Seattle Globalist, Crosscut, and many more.She's been an Emerald contributor since 2015. Follow her on Instagram @fried.susan.

Phil Manzano is a South Seattle writer, editor with more than 30 years of experience in daily journalism, and is the interim news editor for the Emerald.

📸 Featured Image: Students return to Garfield High School Tuesday, June 11, just days after a shooting took the life of a student, Amarr Murphy-Paine. (Photo: Susan Fried)

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