Two 16-year-old boys were found dead within a half mile of each other along Interstate 5 in Washington State in what authorities believe are connected killings. The victims, Jahaz S. Phillips and Myion Coleman, were hidden behind a high concrete wall and dense forest along the busy Seattle highway. The first victim’s body was discovered in a ditch near North 85th Street and I-5 by a passerby on Thursday night, with the second victim being found about 12 hours later on Friday morning. Both teenagers died from gunshot wounds, according to police.
The circumstances leading up to the teens’ homicides and the exact locations and times of their deaths are still under investigation by law enforcement. The Washington State Patrol has not provided further details on how the two cases are connected. Trooper Rick Johnson confirmed that the deaths were related after interviewing the victims’ families, but did not elaborate. Local news outlets have also confirmed that the cases are connected, although the exact connection has not been disclosed.
Neighbors in the area where the bodies were found expressed shock and sadness over the tragic deaths of the two teenagers. Jake Rower, a resident living near the stretch of I-5 where the victims were discovered, described the events as the most extreme thing he has heard of happening in the area. The discovery of the bodies behind a concrete wall and dense forest along the highway has left community members stunned and heartbroken, particularly due to the young age of the victims.
Initially, authorities believed that the teenagers had been struck by a car, but autopsies later confirmed that they had been killed by gunshot wounds. The location of the bodies, hidden behind the high concrete wall and dense foliage, made them difficult to spot from the highway. The area where the victims were found was obstructed by trees and walls, requiring passersby on the ramp to notice what was happening. The nature of the killings and the circumstances surrounding the deaths of the two teenagers have raised concerns and questions within the community.
The Washington State Patrol is leading the investigation into the killings of Jahaz S. Phillips and Myion Coleman, working to determine the motives behind the homicides and how the two cases are connected. Authorities are seeking information from the public and the victims’ families to piece together the events leading up to the tragic deaths. The tragic loss of two young lives in such a violent manner has left the community in shock and mourning, with residents expressing their condolences and concern for the families of the victims. Police are urging anyone with information regarding the case to come forward and assist in finding justice for the two teenagers who lost their lives along Interstate 5.
