This is a follow-up to our previous story.
May 12, 2026 – According to a report in the Seattle Times, the police have arrested a 20-year-old Auburn man in the fatal shooting of an employee at The Growler Guys in Seattle. The suspect waived his right to a first court appearance. A King County District Court judge found probable cause to hold him on investigation of second-degree murder for allegedly shooting Quusaa Margarsa in the back of the head during an “after-hours hangout” at the taproom on Lake City Way.
The police statement outlining the charges against the suspect states that the employee closed up shop at The Growler Guys before returning to the business some hours later, in the early morning hours of Saturday, May 9th. The probable cause statement says that Quusaa Margarsa closed the business, then met a man (the suspect) and a woman at a hookah lounge on Aurora Avenue North. The suspect and the woman accompanied Margarsa when he returned to the business some time later.
A senior deputy prosecutor, Christopher Anderson, said Margarsa was shot while leading the two others to the door, and a key was found near Margarsa’s right hand. The incident, including the shooting, was captured on The Growler Guys’ surveillance system.
The probable cause statement says that surveillance footage shows the three individuals returning to The Growler Guys shortly before 5:30 a.m. and spending about an hour “hanging out, drinking, and possibly doing narcotics together.” There is no audio, but apparently there was some kind of “verbal disagreement,” and when Margarsa turned to unlock the door, “the male suspect pulled out a handgun from his crossbody bag and shot Margarsa multiple times in the back,” it says.
The man and woman left through the top half of the Dutch door and fled in the woman’s car, according to the statement.
A co-worker arrived at the business later that morning and found the top part of a Dutch door open. Upon entering, the co-worker found Margarsa on the floor in a pool of blood with three fired casings nearby. The co-worker called 911. Responders pronounced Margarsa dead at the scene.
The prosecutor successfully argued that the 20-year-old poses a danger to the community and requested that bail be set at $2 million. That request was granted by Judge Matthew York, who cited the “brazen” nature of the alleged shooting as one of the reasons for his decision.
Original story below.
Incident at The Growler Guys Shakes Local Craft Beer Community
In the early morning/overnight hours of Saturday, May 9th, tragedy struck The Growler Guys, the beloved beer-focused bar in Seattle. One of the staff members was fatally shot. The investigation is ongoing, and details are still unknown, but 26-year-old Quusaa Margarsa was found in grave condition when a fellow employee arrived for work on Saturday morning. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene.
We are reporting everything we know at this time. The police investigation is still in the early stages, and they are asking anyone with information about the incident to contact 911. The Washington Beer Blog will share more information as we learn it.
Hugs Not Handshakes
Kelly Dole, the owner of The Growler Guys, says the man they called Q was a family friend who attended school with his son at nearby Nathan Hale High School. Dole described him as the best friend you could ever have, a person who preferred hugs to handshakes and always had a smile on his face. Friends and regular patrons of The Growler Guys gathered outside the scene throughout the day on Saturday to share the disbelief and grief.
On Saturday, The Growler Guys announced on Instagram that it would be closed for the weekend. No word yet on when normal operations will resume. Right now, that seems unimportant, and “normal operations” is probably difficult to imagine.
There is a GoFundMe campaign to help his family pay for expenses. “With the devastating loss of Quusaa “Q” Margarsa, we are raising funds to assist with funeral and memorial expenses. Any donation amount is greatly appreciated in support of Q’s family, during this tragic time. Thank you so much.”
About The Growler Guys
The Growler Guys is located at 8500 Lake City Way NE in Seattle. The taproom has dozens of beers on tap and is an important part of the local craft beer scene. In addition to community events, holiday parties, and live music, The Growler Guys hosts important industry events, such as its annual Fresh Hop Freshtival, which runs from early September through mid-October and typically features upwards of 25+ fresh hop beers on tap at a time.
