Police identify, search for suspect in fatal shooting of man at Seattle church

SEATTLE — Seattle police homicide detectives confirmed Friday evening that they have identified a suspect in the fatal shooting of a man inside a South Seattle church in mid-March 2021.

>>Man fatally shot in front of dozens in South Seattle church, police say

Police said they are searching for Isaiah Thomas Hinds.

According to detectives, Hinds fatally shot Omari Wallace inside Emerald City Bible Fellowship Church, located at 7728 Rainier Avenue south, when Community Passageways was holding an orientation for a diversion program for young offenders. Wallace was 19 years old at the time.

Seattle police said Wallace and another man, now identified as Hinds, got into an argument inside the church. Moments later, Hinds allegedly pulled out a gun and shot Wallace multiple times, according to police.

This all happened after Hinds had entered a second-floor room at the church where the program meeting was occurring and noticed Wallace.

Police said Hinds fled the scene in an older model Toyota Corolla Station Wagon.

On that day, Wallace’s mother, Katrina Ness, had just returned to pick him up.

>> Kent mother speaks out after son killed in Seattle church

“And it didn’t register at first,” Ness said. “But my son’s mentor came out and looked at me and just threw his hands in the air. And I ran in the building. And I got in there as he was taking his last breath. I was sitting right there next to him.”

Investigators believe Hinds is still in the Seattle and Tacoma areas, and he should be considered armed and dangerous.

Anyone who sees Hinds is asked to call police immediately at 911 or the police department tip line at 206-233-5000.

[DOWNLOAD: Free KIRO 7 News app for alerts as news breaks]