A 14-year-old boy died after he was struck by a monorail in Seattle, Washington on July 30.
Xavier Gayton, who was visiting from Arizona, had climbed onto a building roof adjacent to the monorail tracks to spray-paint graffiti.
Allison Gardner, Xavier’s mother, spoke to the media about her son’s love for art and her profound grief over the incident. Xavier, originally from Washington, had relocated to Arizona with his mother nine years ago. He was in Seattle for the summer to spend time with family and friends. Gardner shared that a GoFundMe campaign in his memory had raised over $9,000.
Despite the known risks associated with graffiti, many teenagers like Xavier may overlook the dangers. The Seattle Fire Department responded to the scene but was unable to save the young artist. The police have secured video evidence of Xavier’s graffiti activities.
The Seattle Center Monorail released a statement, underscoring their dedication to safety and promising full collaboration with the ongoing investigation.
