Seattle is mourning the loss of Quusaa “Q” Margarsa, a 25-year-old Seattle man who was found dead Saturday morning inside the Lake City location of The Growler Guys, where he worked.
According to Seattle police, officers responded to the business after a coworker arrived to open the taproom and discovered Margarsa suffering from a gunshot wound. Investigators believe the shooting happened late Friday night while he was closing the business alone. No arrests have been announced, and detectives are continuing to investigate what led to the killing.
For many in the community, the tragedy feels especially personal.
Friends and former classmates described Margarsa as outgoing, funny, hardworking, and someone who naturally connected with people. Many knew him simply as “Q,” a familiar face whose personality helped make the neighborhood establishment feel welcoming.
Margarsa attended Nathan Hale High School, where friends say he was part of the school’s 2017 state championship basketball team. Since news of his death spread, former teammates, customers, and community members have shared memories online describing him as someone who carried positive energy everywhere he went.
Outside the Lake City business, a memorial has continued to grow throughout the weekend. Flowers, candles, handwritten notes, and balloons now line the storefront as residents stop to pay their respects. Several messages describe disbelief that someone so well-liked and young could lose his life in such a sudden act of violence.
The killing has also reignited concerns about safety for late-night workers in Seattle neighborhoods, particularly employees responsible for closing businesses alone. Community members have called for answers as police work to determine whether the shooting was targeted, random, or connected to a robbery.
As detectives continue searching for leads, those who knew Margarsa say they want people to remember more than the circumstances of his death. They want him remembered as a son, friend, teammate, coworker, and a person who made others feel seen.
Anyone with information related to the case is urged to contact the Seattle Police Department’s homicide unit.