In Seattle’s Superior Court on December 10, 2025, Antonio Mays Sr. holds a photo of himself with his son, Antonio Mays Jr. The scene traces back to the chaotic events of June 29, 2020, during the Capitol Hill Occupied Protest (CHOP) in Seattle.
The Night of Chaos
Shortly before 3 a.m., a sense of panic spreads among protestors as a stolen white Jeep erratically circles Cal Anderson Park, coming dangerously close to the tents. This encampment had been the CHOP zone, formed after Seattle police withdrew from their precinct amid protests ignited by George Floyd’s killing. Protestors took this opportunity of retreat to maintain activities like movie nights and mutual aid, but also faced ongoing tensions.
On this particularly tense night, an unauthorized security force set up by protestors is alert as reports of gunfire emerge. Livestream footage captures gunshots, suggesting that the occupants of the Jeep are potentially shooting at the protestors.
When you come in shooting, I don’t think it’s that much of a surprise when you get shot back,stated protestor Colby Williams the next morning.
This interpretation, shared widely at the camp and online, strengthened the narrative that the protestors acted in self-defense. However, over six years later, Antonio Mays Jr.’s death remains unresolved without charges or suspects.
Antonio’s Journey
Antonio Mays Jr., 16, had journeyed from Southern California to Seattle, inspired to join a civil rights movement. In a letter to his father, he expressed a desire to fight for change so his sister could live without racial pain. His arrival in Seattle and brief involvement with the CHOP leaders were captured in videos.
Three days later, Antonio was dead, shot in the same Jeep that eyewitnesses had noted as potentially stolen. Conflicting reports about the Jeep’s occupants obscured what happened, despite extensive surveillance and video evidence from that night.
The Shooting
At 2:54 a.m., footage shows the Jeep driving erratically, encountering gunfire from a silver Nissan Pathfinder. Protestors at CHOP are on high alert, preparing for an imminent threat. Dozens of shots are exchanged, but forensic analysis later found no evidence of gunfire from the Jeep itself. Panic among those at CHOP led to Antonio being shot as the Jeep crashed into a barricade.
Several 911 calls describe someone firing additional shots at close range. Significant confusion followed as volunteer medics struggled to provide aid. Antonio was eventually taken to the hospital in a vehicle that had previously fired at him.
Aftermath and Investigation
In the shooting’s aftermath, SHOP was chaotic. Video streamed live showed people scouring the Jeep, picking up evidence possibly to remove it. Police, directed by command, did not immediately secure the scene.
The crime scene was disturbed before official detectives arrived. Despite police surveillance from nearby buildings, key video evidence remains unreleased. Attempts to obtain witness cooperation have largely been unsuccessful, leaving Antonio’s killing a lingering mystery.
As of now, the case stands unresolved, highlighting the tensions and complexities around the protest and its aftermath. The Seattle Police Department continues efforts to gain insights from those present.