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.
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