Two 16-year-old boys were tragically found dead within a half mile of each other along Interstate 5 in Washington State in what authorities have confirmed as connected killings. The victims, identified as Jahaz S. Phillips and Myion Coleman, were discovered concealed behind a high concrete wall and dense forest along the busy Seattle highway.
The first victim's body was initially spotted in a ditch near North 85th Street and I-5 by a passerby on Thursday night. Approximately 12 hours later, the second victim was found around 8 a.m. local time on Friday. Both teenagers had succumbed to gunshot wounds, according to law enforcement officials.
Authorities are currently investigating the circumstances leading up to the teens' homicides, as well as the exact time and location of their deaths. While the Washington State Patrol has confirmed that the cases are connected, they have not disclosed further details regarding the link between the two incidents.
Despite attempts by reporters to obtain more information from the Washington State Patrol, immediate responses were not provided. The WSP determined the relationship between the deaths after interviewing the victims' families, although specific details were not disclosed.
Residents in the area, such as neighbor Jake Rower, expressed shock and sadness over the tragic events. Rower described the discovery as the most extreme incident he has witnessed in the vicinity, noting the presence of high concrete retaining walls and dense greenery obstructing visibility in the area where the victims were found.
As the investigation continues, authorities are working diligently to unravel the circumstances surrounding the deaths of these two young individuals and bring justice to their families.
