Man Who Admitted to Fatally Shooting Pregnant Woman Found Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity

Cordell Maurice Goosby will be sent to a psychiatric hospital for potentially the rest of his life.

Mar. 22, 2026 at 4:20pm

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A 30-year-old man named Cordell Maurice Goosby was found not guilty by reason of insanity for the fatal shooting of a pregnant woman and her unborn child in Seattle in June 2023. Goosby admitted to the shooting but claimed he thought he saw a gun in the car, though video evidence showed he was lying. He will now be sent to a psychiatric hospital, potentially for the rest of his life.

Why it matters

This case highlights the complex issues surrounding mental illness, competency to stand trial, and the insanity defense. It raises questions about public safety, the justice system's ability to properly evaluate and treat those with severe mental health issues, and whether the outcome provides any sense of justice or closure for the victims' family.

The details

In June 2023, Goosby allegedly ran up to a car in Seattle and fatally shot Eina Kwon, a 34-year-old pregnant woman, while she was sitting in the car with her husband. Kwon's unborn child also died as a result of the shooting. Goosby initially claimed he thought he saw a gun in the car and acted in self-defense, but video evidence showed this was not true. After being arrested, Goosby's competency to stand trial was evaluated, and he was eventually found competent. However, the insanity plea, which deals with his mental state at the time of the shooting, was confirmed by experts hired by both the defense and prosecution.

  • The shooting occurred in June 2023.
  • Goosby was found not guilty by reason of insanity on March 22, 2026.

The players

Cordell Maurice Goosby

A 30-year-old man who was found not guilty by reason of insanity for the fatal shooting of a pregnant woman and her unborn child in Seattle in June 2023.

Eina Kwon

A 34-year-old pregnant woman who was fatally shot while sitting in a car with her husband in Seattle in June 2023.

Sung-hyun Kwon

The husband of Eina Kwon, who was shot in the arm during the incident but survived.

Adrian Diaz

The Seattle Police Chief at the time of the shooting, who expressed the community's grief and commitment to ensuring safety.

Gabrielle Charlton

The chair of the Felony Competency and Forensic Mental Health Unit at the King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office, who discussed Goosby's competency issues and the insanity plea.

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What they’re saying

“No amount of justice will bring that family home again.”

— Adrian Diaz, Seattle Police Chief

“Mr. Goosby previously did have competency issues and went through competency restoration.”

— Gabrielle Charlton, Chair of the Felony Competency and Forensic Mental Health Unit at the King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office

What’s next

The judge will determine the length of Goosby's stay in a psychiatric hospital, which could potentially be for the rest of his life.

The takeaway

This tragic case highlights the complex issues surrounding mental illness, competency, and the insanity defense in the criminal justice system. It raises questions about public safety, the system's ability to properly evaluate and treat those with severe mental health issues, and whether the outcome provides any sense of justice or closure for the victims' family.