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Who was Xavier Gaytan? Graffiti artist, 14, killed by Seattle Monorail while making artwork near tracks

Xavier Gaytan had climbed a building's roof to access the area near the railway tracks where he was creating his art, when the accident happened

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON: Tragedy struck in Seattle when a talented 14-year-old graffiti artist, Xavier Gaytan, lost his life after being hit by a monorail train while spray-painting his tag on a wall. Gaytan's mother, Allison Gardiner, described her son's work as an "art form." Gaytan had climbed the roof of a downtown building to access the area near the tracks where he was creating his graffiti art when the accident occurred, according to Daily Mail.

In a heartbreaking interview with local media on Friday, August 4, Gardiner shared that Gaytan had been visiting his grandfather in Seattle when the unfortunate accident occurred. The graffiti artist, known by his tag 'Anom,' had climbed the roof of a downtown building to reach the area near the train tracks, where he was engaged in spray-painting his art when the fatal incident took place on Sunday, June 30.

Who was Xavier Gaytan?

Xavier Gaytan was a 14-year-old graffiti artist from Arizona. He loved to dance, sing, and ride his skateboard, and he had a unique sense of style when it came to his hair and clothes. He was always smiling, laughing, and seeking affection, and he had a strong bond with the people around him, according to his mother.

Gardiner set up a GoFundMe for Gaytan, where she wrote, "My fondest memories of Xavier were Friday nights when we would order pizza or grab some cheeseburgers and then cuddle on the couch and watch movies together. I loved our 'dance parties' in the living room and kitchen. I loved all of our trips to Southern California and the time we spent at the beach swimming and boogie boarding. I loved going to concerts and music festivals with him and his brother Alex. Most of all, I loved looking into his big beautiful eyes and seeing his smile."

The fatal accident involving Gaytan occurred at Fifth and Denny Way in Seattle. He was struck and killed by the monorail train, which runs along Fifth Avenue between Seattle Center and Westlake Center Downtown. The monorail was moving at speeds of 45mph, and the elevated rail is 30 feet off the ground in its highest spots. Police found Gaytan dead at the scene, and a surveillance photo later showed him tagging a building before the accident occurred.

'He was just doing something he was passionate about'

"He wasn’t out to hurt anybody. He was just doing something that he was passionate about," Gardiner told KOMO News. Gaytan's passion for street art and graffiti was evident to those who knew him. His mother and others mourning his loss described him as an artist who expressed himself through graffiti, using pseudonyms to gain street cred. His mother acknowledged the bad decision he made in the context of accessing a dangerous area, but emphasized his creative nature and the joy he found in his art. "It's unfortunate that a mistake that he made, again can't be corrected," she said. "He doesn't have an opportunity to turn it around," she added. 

Gardiner said that her son was not alone at the time of the tragic accident. "As far as I know, there was another teenage boy with him, and I do not think he was alone," she said. Despite facing criticism and judgment from detractors over the circumstances surrounding her son's death, Gardiner expressed sympathy for those who have been critical. "It just breaks my heart that people are so cold and judgmental," she told the Seattle news station, citing her son's age and the fact he leave's behind an older brother aged just 16. "I mean just as many people are loving and supportive but he was a kid," Gardiner added. "I actually feel sorry for them because I don't have that level of darkness or hate in my heart, so I actually feel sorry for them." 

"An accident is an accident, it is never anyone's fault, and no matter how many bad choices a child makes, they don't deserve to lose their life and have people point fingers at them." She added, "[Graffiti] is an art form, and it is one that I respect and his father respects. However, we did have a united position on doing that safely and legally versus illegally and putting yourself in danger."