Two 16-year-old boys, who were best friends, were discovered dead in close proximity, less than half a mile from each other, under circumstances suggesting a chilling connection between their murders. The bodies were located along Interstate 5, in Seattle, Washington.
Within a period of 10 hours, Jahaz Phillips and Myion Coleman were found dead along the highway. The sequence in which the boys were discovered remains unknown.
On the night of March 21, 2024, a passerby spotted the first body around 10:30 p.m. in a ditch near North 85th Street and Interstate 5. The following morning, at roughly 8:30 a.m., the other boy was located in a ravine near the Northbound ramp of Northeast 85th Street. Both teenagers were hidden behind a tall concrete barrier and thick foliage, away from public sight.
Post-mortem examinations revealed that both Phillips and Coleman had sustained deadly gunshot injuries, debunking earlier assumptions of a vehicular incident. This key finding directed the Washington State Patrol to shift their focus to a homicide investigation.
A family member of Jahaz disclosed to the local press the deep camaraderie between the boys, highlighting that they were always seen together.
Rick Johnson, a trooper with the Washington State Patrol in King County, stated that conversations with the families of both boys helped establish a connection between their untimely deaths. However, the specific nature of this link is yet to be determined.
Local inhabitant Jake Rower expressed his anguish to the media, saying, “The younger it is, the more heartbreaking. This is the most extreme thing I’ve heard happening here anyway.”
A GoFundMe campaign was initiated to honor Jahaz’s memory and assist his family with funeral expenses. A family member who started the fundraiser praised Jahaz as exceptionally intelligent and charming, a young man who was beloved by all who knew him. The sudden and violent end of his life, alongside his closest friend, was mourned.
The relative spoke about Jahaz’s captivating personality and his magnetic sense of humor. He was a treasured member of the family, cherished as a brother, son, uncle, and grand-uncle.
In a media interview, a family member shared details of Jahaz’s close relationship with his late mother, his primary support and confidante. The loss of his mother had a profound impact, and the subsequent loss of Jahaz was a devastating blow to the family. Despite often being the youngest at family gatherings, his spirit was notably vibrant and noticeable.
Donations to the GoFundMe campaign have exceeded $8,700, with a goal of $10,000.
A separate fundraising campaign has been set up to support Myion’s mother, Myisha. A classmate’s anonymous parent posted on the fundraising page: “Myion was a classmate of my own child during their middle school years, and he consistently tried to show kindness in situations where others might not. It’s a tragedy that no young person or parent should face. Our hearts are heavy with sorrow.” So far, over $6,000 has been raised, with a target of $15,000.
With no suspects in custody, investigators are appealing to the public for any information that could advance the investigation. Trooper Johnson expressed optimism, stating, “We need help moving this forward. Someone saw and knows something, so we are looking for that.”
Trooper Johnson told Inside Edition Digital that police “are monitoring social media at length and do have leads but at this point in time no suspect.”