EVERETT — A Snohomish County Superior Court judge sentenced an Edmonds man accused of fatally shooting a rideshare driver in 2024 to over 19 years in prison Wednesday.
On July 16, a 12-person jury found 23-year-old Alex Waggoner guilty of murder in the second degree on the third day of his trial before Snohomish County Superior Court Judge Richard Okrent. The jury also affirmed a special verdict that Waggoner was armed with a firearm at the time of the incident.
Around 10:15 p.m. Jan. 3, 2024, Waggoner was walking to Safeway to buy alcohol after drinking earlier in the day, court documents said. Abdulkadir Shariif, 31, was driving near the intersection of Edmonds Way and 236th Street Southwest when he almost struck Waggoner, who was in the crosswalk, while making a left turn. Dashcam footage showed Shariif rolled down the window to apologize.
Waggoner pulled out a gun and shot into Shariif’s car, according to court documents. When there were no more rounds left in his gun, Waggoner ran to his apartment yelling at his girlfriend to let him in.
Detectives found 11 shell casings at the scene and determined nine bullets hit Shariif’s car. Shariif died from a gunshot would to the head, according to an autopsy report.
A week after the shooting, police arrested Waggoner outside his apartment, court documents said. He was wearing body armor and carrying two loaded firearms at the time of his arrest.
In a police interview, Waggoner admitted to fatally shooting Shariif. He said he was “scared” when the car nearly hit him, but he “grossly overreacted” and was sorry for what he did, according to court documents.
Waggoner had been involved in numerous Edmonds police calls for domestic disputes with his girlfriend and behavioral health issues, court documents said.
Shariif was a beloved member and volunteer of the Abubakr Islamic Center in Tukwila.
At Waggoner’s sentence hearing Wednesday, Members of Shariif’s family and friends filled the seats in the courtroom. Okrent heard statements from Shariif’s family and community members.
“To you that might have been a night you made a mistake, and hopefully you learned from it, but to many others January third was a life changing day we will never forget,” said Shariif’s cousin Laila Hassan. “One less person at our dinner table, one less person standing beside his brother in prayer. He might be one less person on this planet full of billions, but his absence is felt, making this place feel empty.”
Okrent sentenced Waggoner to 175 months for murder in the second degree and 60 months for the firearm enhancement for a total of 235 months. Upon release, Waggoner will serve 36 months of community custody. Restitution will be decided at a later date.
Before he pronounced his decision, Okrent addressed Waggoner.
“You’re an adult. You’re not a child. You testified in court. You understand the significance of what you did,” Okrent said to Waggoner during the sentencing. “You understood exactly what you were doing that night, and you decided to take your gun with you after drinking to get some more alcohol.”
The standard sentence range for this level of offense is 182 to 280 months, court documents said. Prosecutors recommended 260 months of custody.
“I can’t help but be struck by what was said in the moments following his arrest versus what was claimed at trial,” prosecutor Bob Langbehn said. “I believe that the state’s recommendation is appropriate.”
The defense recommended five years for murder in the second degree and five years for the firearm enhancement for a total of 10 years in custody.
“We have a culture in this country of the way to defend yourself is a firearm,” defense attorney Jeffrey Wolfenbarger said. “You have a constitutional right, our second amendment, to carry a firearm to defend yourself. And the world is dangerous, and people are out there to get you. “
The defense presented a notice of appeal and a motion for public funds and to appoint an appellate attorney.
“We’re not here for revenge,” Shariif’s sister Umueyaman Shariif said Wednesday. “We are here for justice.”
Jenna Millikan: 425-339-3035; jenna.millikan@heraldnet.com; X: @JennaMillikan