WA Teen arrested in deadly Federal Way IHOP shooting

Police arrest teen in Federal Way IHOP shooting that killed toddler

Police have arrested a teenage suspect connected to the Federal Way IHOP parking lot shooting that killed a 2-year-old in April 2024.

FEDERAL WAY, Wash. - Police have arrested a teenage suspect connected to the Federal Way IHOP parking lot shooting that killed a two-year-old in April 2024.

On April 4, just before 10 a.m., officers responded to reports of a shooting at the IHOP on 178 Southwest Campus Drive. Just minutes later, St. Francis Hospital called the Federal Way Police Department, reporting that a two-year-old boy had been brought to the hospital with a gunshot wound.

2-year-old killed in shooting near Federal Way IHOP

A child was caught in the crosshairs of a shooting between a relative and another person. The child later died from their injuries.

The child was then taken to Harborview Medical Center where he later passed away.

The King County Medical Examiner's Office identified the child as Synsyr Lewis. The ME's office said the child was unfortunately shot in the head.

Investigators said Synsyr's father and another person were shooting at each other in the parking lot, and it was not a random shooting. Police described it as an ambush targeting the boy’s father, Tyrell Lewis, who returned fire in self-defense.

Federal Way police say after months of investigating, detectives eventually identified 17-year-old Jayson Juan Jack as the suspect. Authorities say he was 16 at the time of the shooting.

"Our detectives have worked tirelessly on this case for the last five or six months. It has been a priority for our department," said Commander Kyle Buchanan of the Federal Way Police Department. "We developed a suspect and made an arrest yesterday at his residence here in Federal Way."

On Wednesday, detectives arrested Jack at his home in Federal Way. He was booked into the King County Children and Family Justice Center for first-degree murder and two counts of first-degree attempted murder. He will be charged as an adult.

"This has been a heartbreaking case for our entire community, and we are thankful for the tireless efforts of law enforcement in bringing this suspect to justice. We will not tolerate violence that endangers our children, and we remain fully committed to making Federal Way a safer place for everyone," Federal Way Mayor Jim Ferrell said after the arrest.

Charging documents say Jack allegedly arrived at the scene after being informed of Lewis’s location, circled the parking lot several times in a stolen vehicle, and then fired more than 15 rounds at Lewis’s vehicle. Lewis ducked to shield his child, who was asleep in his car seat.

"This person was very dangerous and very reckless with their actions," Buchanan said.

After the shooting, Jack fled the scene and abandoned the stolen vehicle and the firearm, according to police.

Documents also revealed a family connection between the shooter and the victims. Synsyr’s mother identified Jack as her cousin, though the motive for the attack remains unclear.

Jack has a violent history. He has juvenile adjudications for second-degree robbery, theft of a motor vehicle, and unlawful possession of a firearm.

Documents say the robberies occurred on May 10, 2023. Jack robbed a 71-year-old woman in Bellevue, and later that day, an 82-year-old woman in Mercer Island. Both robberies were at gunpoint.

Jack was arrested 34 days after Synsyr's murder for unlawful possession of a firearm.

Federal Way Mayor Jim Ferrell reflected on the tragedy, extending condolences to the grieving family.

"I am so sorry. We are so sorry as a community. I can’t even begin to understand the level of loss they are going through. But I hope that knowing we have arrested the person responsible brings them some relief."

In response to the rise in violence in the community, including multiple shootings on the same day as the IHOP incident, Federal Way has been ramping up its violent crime reduction efforts. Buchanan reinforced the creation of a Violent Crime Reduction Team, aimed at increasing patrols in high-crime areas and arresting offenders. The mayor also announced plans to add four new officers to the department, with funding for three quarters of their salaries covered by a federal grant.

"We want to respond as quickly as possible. More officers mean faster response times, more thorough investigations, and a stronger police presence," Farrell said.

Jack is scheduled to be arraigned in about two weeks as the investigation continues.

The State is requesting bail be set at $3 million for the murder charge, and $1 million each for each of the attempted murder charges, for a total of $5 million.