Thirteen-year-old Kessai Kios recently shared his experience as the victim of a stabbing that occurred on January 16th in Everett, drawing attention to issues of youth safety and community violence. While walking to North Middle School, Kios was unexpectedly attacked from behind by the suspect, who punched him before brandishing a knife. In a frantic effort to escape, Kios ran into traffic but unfortunately stumbled and fell, leading to a brutal attack where he was stabbed five times. The lead suspect, Andrew Freeman, has since been arrested, providing some relief to Kios and his family. Kios is currently recovering from his injuries and feels safer now that the suspect is in custody.

His family has launched a GoFundMe campaign to assist with medical expenses, which has raised over $4,600 from the supportive community. This incident not only underscores the vulnerability of young individuals but also the urgent need for community dialogue on violence prevention. Kios’s courage in sharing his story serves as a reminder of the resilience of youth in the face of adversity.