Teen shot and killed by homeowner just days before his graduation, Washington cops say

Todd Smith, a “beautiful soul” known for his sense of humor at school, planned to study computer science in college, friends said.

But days before his high school graduation, the 19-year-old Arlington High School senior was shot and killed after Washington police say he trespassed on a homeowner’s property.

Around 4 a.m. on Saturday, an Arlington homeowner called 911 to report a “shirtless stranger” had been knocking at their door and attempting to break in while they were sleeping, according to a news release from the Everett Police Department.

The homeowner told police he informed the person that he was armed but that allegedly didn’t deter the teen, who “advanced” on the homeowner while he was speaking through a sliding glass door, police said. Despite the homeowner’s attempts to warn the stranger, he allegedly continued to advance, and the homeowner shot him twice, according to the release.

The stranger turned out to be Smith, who, police say, wandered away from a nearby graduation party. Smith was expected to graduate June 10, Gary Sabol, a spokesperson for the Arlington School District, told McClatchy News in an email.

“I’m thinking about standing up on the stage and seeing the empty chair where our friend was supposed to be,” Daniel Schweizer, a friend of the 19-year-old, told KCPQ.

The sheriff’s office referred the case to the Everett Police Department because the teen was related to a deputy, Kerby Duncan, a spokesperson for the police department, told McClatchy in an email.

Duncan says the police department will not release the specific relationship between the deceased teen and deputy.

The homeowner has not been arrested or charged, Duncan said. It’s not yet clear whether charges will be filed against the man as police continue the investigation.

“He’s a 5-foot, 6-inch, maybe 140-pound kid. He wasn’t a threat at all. He was lost,” Brendan Donahue, a friend, told KING.

A petition on change.org is demanding “Justice for Todd,” as organizers push for the homeowner to face consequences.

“A bright, funny, and kind young man was taken away from our community, and has left a hole in all of our hearts,” the petition says.

This story was originally published June 7, 2021 at 12:54 PM with the headline "Teen shot and killed by homeowner just days before his graduation, Washington cops say."