SEATTLE — This month marks one year since four people were shot in Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood, the weekend of the 2023 Capitol Hill Block Party.
Essence Greene-Madden, 20, was killed by a stray bullet in that shooting. Now almost a year later, no one has been held accountable for her death.
“We're going on 12 months and there's been no developments that are holding anybody accountable for what happened that night,” said Tina Madden, the mother of Essence.
It happened a few hours after the Capitol Hill Block Party which Essence had attended in Seattle, coming from Federal Way. An illegal street racing event erupted in the neighborhood and Essence was hit by a stray bullet.
“This month, it'll be the anniversary of the death of my daughter at the hands of gun violence,” said Madden.
One year later and Madden is still calling for action, for someone to be held accountable.
The Seattle Police Homicide Unit said they arrested and charged one person with unlawful possession of a firearm associated with the shooting, but they are still looking for more evidence and investigating to find and arrest whoever pulled the trigger on the gun, killing Essence.
“To me, without anybody being held accountable, it's like her life was meaningless,” said Madden. “And that it didn’t mean enough to pursue who really did this to her.”
She said she believes people who were there can help prove who did this and is asking them to share information. She is also asking Seattle Police to be diligent and stay focused on finding and arresting the person who killed her daughter.
“I'm letting the system do what this system does,” said Madden. “It just hurts because it takes so long, you know? So, you carry this around constantly, when is something going to be done?”
She is pushing for accountability because each day without closure, is another day without justice for Essence.
“Until the day I get justice, I’ll always fight for my baby,” said Madden. “I'm going to always fight for her.”