Nearly six years after the Capitol Hill Occupied Protest transformed a Seattle neighborhood into a focal point of national attention, a major investigative podcast is examining one of the most troubling incidents from that period: the unsolved shooting death of a teenage visitor who traveled across the country to join the racial justice movement.
"We Keep Us Safe," a collaborative eight-part series from NPR, KUOW, and The Seattle Times, investigates the death of Antonio Mays Jr., a sixteen-year-old who was shot and killed during the summer of 2020 at the protest zone known as CHOP. The case remains unsolved to this day.
According to the podcast description, Antonio Mays Jr. traveled approximately one thousand miles to Seattle to participate in the racial justice demonstrations that swept the nation following the death of George Floyd. He arrived during the Capitol Hill Occupied Protest and was killed less than a week later.
The investigative series promises to track down key figures and eyewitnesses from the night of the shooting while surfacing crucial evidence that has never been made public. The collaboration brings together the resources of three major news organizations, with reporting by Sydney Brownstone, Will James, and David Gutman.
The Capitol Hill Occupied Protest emerged in June 2020 as demonstrators established an autonomous zone spanning several blocks near the Seattle Police Department's East Precinct. The area became a flashpoint in national debates about policing, protest tactics, and public safety. The occupation lasted several weeks before authorities cleared the zone.
The podcast represents a significant investigative effort, with production support from Adelina Lancianese, Dan Girma, and Abby Wendle, and editing by Luis Trelles, Laura Greanias, and Katie Simon. Additional reporting and production contributions came from Omari Salisbury, Greg Scruggs, David Gutherz, and Sarah Wyman.
The series draws on extensive archival material, including video footage provided by Converge Media. The Seattle Times previously reported on the shooting in July 2020 and revisited the case in March 2025, noting the lack of resolution five years after the incident.
The podcast arrives at a moment when Seattle continues to grapple with questions about public safety, police accountability, and the legacy of the 2020 protests. For the family of Antonio Mays Jr. and others seeking answers, the investigation represents a renewed effort to understand what happened during those chaotic weeks and why no one has been held accountable for his death.
The series is available through NPR and KUOW platforms, offering Seattle residents and a national audience an in-depth examination of an event that remains a painful and unresolved chapter in the city's recent history.
