After downtown shooting, Lynnwood leaders press for broader solutions to youth violence

Mayor George Hurst told the Lynnwood City Council on June 22 that a shooting two Fridays earlier in a Starbucks parking lot near 168th and Highway 99 sent a serious safety message to the community but did not result in any fatalities. "A lot of times, we'll say that this type of thing is unacceptable, and it is," Hurst said, adding that the city will pursue measures to address root causes.

Multiple council members used the meeting to highlight recurring gunfire incidents and express frustration with limits on the city’s authority. Councilmember Lewyther noted shootings in Meadowdale Park and other locations since 2020 and said the city has funded the police department and municipal court but lacks control over county charging decisions. "We are doing what we can to ensure that the PD is fully funded," Lewyther said, and urged the county and state to provide support for prosecutors and systems beyond the city’s budget.

Council member Owens urged outreach to young people and emphasized partnerships: "Everybody wants to figure out a true solution for this," she said, describing personal experience and the need to hear from youth affected by the problem. Councilmembers described ongoing conversations with Chief Langdon of the Lynnwood Police Department and said they are preparing an initiative from the mayor’s office to coordinate with county and state partners.

The city also heard public comment about neighborhood safety from residents reporting dangerous driving on 254th and other local streets; speakers asked the council to consider traffic calming and enforcement as part of broader safety planning. The council did not take formal action on public-safety policy at the June 22 meeting but asked staff to continue collaboration with regional partners and to return with proposals during the budget process.