12-year-old middle school student killed by runaway SUV laid to rest
Family and friends say a tearful goodbye to a Washington Middle School student after she was killed by a runaway SUV. This, as their Ethiopian community demands Seattle leaders take action.
The 12-year-old Washington Middle School student was laid to rest amid the sobs of her parents, surviving sister, family and friends.
Her family and their community are now calling on city leaders to do more.
The action indeed, the Ethiopian community, would like to see is the arrest of the parent whose vehicle allegedly rolled into this 12-year-old killing her outside her school, as her schoolmates watched in horror.
It was almost unbearable for the mother of 12-year-old Arsema Barekew, forced to say goodbye to her precious daughter.
Her husband trying to comfort her while dealing with his own grief.
On Thursday, March 6, Arsema was outside with her schoolmates at Washington Middle School during second lunch.
A parent allegedly parked an SUV in a no-parking zone and left it. Eyewitnesses say the unattended vehicle rolled down 20th Place South and struck Arsema, killing her instantly.
Last week, the family shared their concerns first with KIRO 7.
'Did you know that your daughter would be walking around the school outside?' Berihun MeKonnen, her father, was asked.
'No,' he said. 'No, nothing.'
They were also upset with Seattle Public Schools Superintendent Brent Jones. He spoke to reporters at the scene but had not yet spoken to them. That has apparently changed.
Jones was spotted at the church service for Arsema and, according to a family spokesman, the district provided this school bus and van for her grieving friends and family.
Sebrena Burr, the Seattle Council PTSA co-president, says the parent who drove the SUV and their child need support, too.
'So, my hope and prayer is Seattle Public Schools will be intentional about this whole school community in a restorative way,' Burr said.
But Arsema's family and friends want the driver in custody.
'There needs to be some type of action to learn 'oh, you can't just take a life of a little girl and be able to move forward,'' said Ezanna Kasahun, who knows the family through the Yesler Community Center.
Seattle police have told KIRO 7 they are actively investigating this terrible accident. They have three months to complete their work. KIRO 7 is staying on this story to keep you up to date.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Yahoo
A look into Decker's relationship with his girls
Friday marks day seven of the state-wide manhunt for Travis Decker, the Wenatchee father accused of kidnapping and killing his three young daughters. Today deputies say they are narrowing down the search to Chelan and surrounding counties, with a focus on the mountains. This is thanks to more than five hundred tips from the public. Now, KIRO 7 is sharing an exclusive video that gives a closer look into Decker's relationship with his daughters. Since the beginning of the week, we have been in touch with the girls' mother, Whitney Decker, via her trusted friends and attorney. They tell us the reason this situation is so shocking is because they truly never saw it coming. Through exclusive videos and pictures, we see Paityn, Evelyn, and Olivia smiling, laughing, and having fun with their dad. Whitney Decker even gave us a photo compilation turned into a video. She told her attorney she made the video as a Father's Day gift for Travis prior to this year. Arianna Cozart said she has represented Whitney during the divorce between her and Travis. She said Travis was very present in the girls' lives. 'He was going to all the girls' dance and soccer practices, everything they did, you name it, he was being very active,' said Arianna Cozart, Whitney's attorney. 'Whitney would tell you Travis loved two things in this world,' Cozart said. 'Those girls and Jesus. That was Travis.' But she tells us a lot changed after Travis came back from his Army tour in Afghanistan. 'He was able to keep it together for the girls, but he certainly wasn't kind to her [Whitney] and he struggled with feeling he was worth a family, feeling his life was worth that,' Cozart said. Cozart said he is diagnosed with borderline personality disorder and struggles with Complex PTSD. 'He sought resources, a lot of that we didn't know before he abducted the girls,' Cozart said. She tells us those veteran's resources are crumbling, both here in the Valley and across the country. She said local organizations are even separating from some patients due to a lack of staffing and funding. 'If Travis would've been supported and his mental health struggles of course he never would've murdered his babies,' Cozart said. She said one local VA especially is struggling. 'They haven't been able to see any new veteran patients for six months,' she said. Because of this, Decker was without the help he needed to work through his mental health issues. 'I know Whitney believes that these children would not be dead if our government military veterans would've been supported,' Cozart said. Right now, Whitney Decker isn't ready to speak out on this horrifying tragic situation. Cozart tells us in time, she will, saying she has already mentioned using her voice and story to advocate for veterans' mental health benefits so that this never happens to anyone else.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Yahoo
Police called to collision involving triple-murder suspect Travis Decker two days before kidnapping
Triple-murder suspect Travis Decker was involved in a rear-end collision just two days before police say he kidnapped and murdered his three children in Wenatchee. Newly obtained documents by KIRO 7, show that an officer with the Wenatchee Police Department responded to a crash at the intersection of Miller Street and Fifth Street on Wednesday, May 28, at about 3:52 a.m. According to the Chelan County Sheriff's Office, a ping from Deckers phone on Thursday showed that Decker was at the campsite where his children were killed. On Friday, deputies found their bodies. Police said it appeared they died from asphyxiation. His white GMC Sierra pick-up truck was also there, with his wallet inside. According to the Wenatchee Police Department, on that Wednesday morning, the non-injury collision happened when Decker in his GMC was stopped at a red light behind another car. When the light turned green, both vehicles began to move. The car then slowed for traffic ahead of it, and Decker rear-ended the car. Police noted there was damage to the front end of Decker's truck and rear-end damage to the car. When Decker was interviewed, police say he admitted to not having car insurance. The officer cited Decker $196 for following too closely and $559 for operating his truck without insurance.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Yahoo
State Patrol seizes several pounds of drugs with the help of K-9 Knox
Washington State Patrol was able to find several drugs in a car with the help of K-9 Knox. The State Patrol requested the Snohomish County Sheriff's Office's help with a drug sniff after they had reason to believe that there were drugs in a car. K-9 Knox was able to help find several pounds of drugs, including fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine. It's unclear how many people were arrested in connection with the bust. KIRO 7 will have more details as they become available.
