The incident took place in the early morning hours of January 3, 2024, at the intersection of Edmonds Way and 236th Street SW. According to investigators, Shariif’s vehicle nearly struck Waggoner, who said he had to step aside to avoid being hit. Shariif stopped and attempted to apologize, but Waggoner responded by firing 11 shots, killing him at the scene.
At trial, defense attorney Jeffrey Wolfenbarger claimed that Waggoner had been “mesmerized” by YouTube content that promoted paranoia about self-defense. Court filings suggested that repeated exposure to these videos influenced Waggoner to carry a firearm and ultimately shaped the actions that led to the shooting.
“These beliefs and culture that were perpetuated by countless YouTube videos put Mr. Waggoner on a path that became a self-fulfilling prophecy,” the defense wrote.
But Snohomish County Superior Court Judge Richard Okrent firmly rejected that argument when issuing the sentence.
“It wasn’t about watching videos,” Judge Okrent said. “There are plenty of videos on gun safety and personal protection. Not one says to pull out your gun and shoot someone who is apologizing for a mistake.”
Judge Okrent emphasized the senselessness of the act:
“He accidentally almost hit you, he stopped his car, and he tried to apologize. Very few people would respond by unloading 11 bullets into a man.”
