Court Issues Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity Finding in 2023 Seattle Belltown Shooting

On June 13, 2023, a shooting in Seattle’s Belltown neighborhood resulted in the death of 34-year-old Eina Kwon and her unborn child.

Her husband, 37-year-old Sung Kwon, sustained injuries but survived the attack during the morning commute.

The incident occurred around 11:15 a.m. at the intersection of 4th Avenue and Lenora Street.

Authorities reported that Cordell Maurice Goosby, 33, fired six shots into the victims’ vehicle while it was stopped at a red light.

Goosby was apprehended at the scene and subsequently confessed to the shooting.

Surveillance footage and investigative findings indicated the attack was random, with no evidence of a prior connection between the suspect and the victims.

Investigations into Goosby’s background revealed a documented history of severe mental illness dating back to 2015.

Diagnoses included schizophrenia spectrum disorders and substance use disorders, alongside a history of psychiatric hospitalizations and documented delusions.

Following his arrest, Goosby underwent three rounds of competency restoration at Western State Hospital.

Initially pleading not guilty, he eventually returned to the King County Jail after being deemed competent to stand trial in late 2025.

On March 20, 2026, both defense and prosecution psychiatric experts reached a consensus that Goosby met the legal definition of insanity at the exact time of the shooting.

Under Washington law, this means a mental defect prevented him from understanding the nature of his acts.

The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office accepted a finding of not guilty by reason of insanity.

As a result, Goosby will not serve a traditional prison sentence but will be committed indefinitely to a state psychiatric facility.

The King County Superior Court will retain oversight of his commitment, with release only possible if experts and a judge determine he is no longer dangerous to the public.

This oversight process typically involves periodic evaluations over many years or a lifetime.

Prosecutors did not file separate homicide charges for the death of the unborn child.

They cited a 2012 Washington Court of Appeals ruling stating that a homicide charge requires the victim to have been born alive for prosecution to proceed.

The local community in Belltown, where the Kwons owned a local restaurant, has expressed significant support for the family through various public memorials.

Fundraisers and community events have raised over $280,000 to assist the surviving family members.