A man identified as Mahamadou Kabba, a Gambian resident in Seattle, Washington, has died from injuries he sustained after being brutally shot by someone he had no dealings or connection with in Renton last week.
His killer, 32-year-old Mamadou Diallo, went on a shooting spree targeting different people in various locations in the Seattle area and is believed to be connected to all three shootings reported on the same day the Gambian was shot.
The suspect is arrested and charged with Kabba’s death and two other shooting incidents.
The death of Kaba, described by the Gambian community as a hardworking and pious man, has sent shockwaves across the immigrant community in the Seatle Washington area.
“On January 12th, Mahamadou Kabba was shot while driving in Renton, Washington. This week, he passed away in the hospital, leaving a loving family stretching across three continents.
Mahamadou was a kind, caring, and hardworking family man who always went the extra mile to help others. His favorite way to spend his free time was at home with his family and five children, Mahamadou, Maramya, Aisha, Idrees, Mohamad, and Selma. When he wasn’t at home or working, he could usually be found at the mosque, taking Arabic or Islamic Studies courses,” a GoFundMe account set up to support his family by friends and family said of the late community leader.
Lamin Jammeh, a Gambian resident in Renton who knows the late Kabba, told Alkamba Times a victim is a pious man.
“Kabba is a very nice man with a great smile, a pious, friendly, and loving person.”
According to Renton police, the incident happened at around 1:40 p.m. at a Kia car dealership on Southwest Grady Way. Diallo allegedly drove into a new part of the dealership’s lot and shot an employee multiple times.
The 42-year-old Kabba was taken to Harborview Medical Center and later died from his injuries.
The suspect, Diallo, was charged by the police and appeared before a judge, according to local media.
Officials said the shootings appeared to be random and “potentially racially motivated.
In interviews with detectives, Diallo said numerous times that he did not like “Black people” because “they always kill each other.” All three men Diallo shot are Black. Charging documents also identify Diallo as Black, local media reports.
Prosecutors argued that Diallo was dangerous to the community and asked for a $5 million bail. A judge ultimately set bail at $3 million.
Meanwhile, Kabba, survived by five children, will be buried Thursday in Seattle after Janazah prayer at Abubakr Islamic Center Tukwila International Blvd, Tukwila, Washington State.
