Community Members Rally in Support of Man Who Was Fatally Shot in Thurston County

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Two separate GoFundMe fundraisers have raised over $40,000 in support of the Jemtegaard family, following the murder of Shawn Jemtegaard on Saturday, April 22.

The local father and youth football coach leaves behind his wife and six children.

Lacey resident Aaron Patrick Costello, 48, is accused of fatally shooting Jemtegaard in a parking lot in the 2500 block of Marvin Road Northeast near Hawks Prairie. The shooting occurred around 6:10 p.m. on April 22, after an alleged “road rage” incident, according to reports.

One of the GoFundMe pages was created by Anna-Marie Grizzell and Heidi Swinney. The two have children in athletic programs at the University of California, Berkeley, where Jemtegaard’s oldest son plays football. The fundraiser raised over $32,000 as of May 1.

The other GoFundMe page was created by Andrew West, Jemtegaard’s brother-in-law. It has raised over $11,000 as of May 1.

Jemtegaard and his wife Chelsea were together for over 20 years. He was the sole provider for their family so his wife could stay home and raise their kids, according to West’s GoFundMe.

“He always made sure to provide for his family. Unfortunately, feeding six kids, a car to transport six kids, and a house for them is a very expensive ordeal,” the GoFundMe page states. “My parents, my other sister, and I will do everything we financially can to support them while they struggle to get back on their feet after this destruction to their family. The need for them is beyond what we are capable of providing so we are seeking any help possible.”

Phillip Ogle, the Thurston County Youth Football League (TCYFL) Tornados head franchise coach, said the death of Jemtegaard has affected the entire TCYFL family.

“He knew how to motivate kids and he knew the game of football really well. It was an honor for my son to play for Shawn,” Ogle told the Nisqually Valley News. “There is definitely an empty hole within the Yelm community. It’s so tragic. It’s super important when we see things like this happen, that we’re there to support.”

Ogle said Jemtegaard always participated in different events, like parades or fundraisers, with the youth football league he coached.

“He supported the franchise widely. He was trying to make sure that kids were coming out with great experiences,” Ogle said. “He was big on fundamentals, but more importantly he wanted to ensure his players had a memorable playing experience.”

Ogle said the TCYFL Tornados plan on honoring Jemtegaard’s name and legacy going forward. He said each year, they will name a recipient of the “Shawn Jemtegaard Scholarship.”

The scholarship will cover the cost of signing up to participate in the football league, which is roughly $300.

There will also be a “Shawn Jemtegaard Player of the Year” trophy that goes to the player who embodies what Jemtegaard stood for as a coach. Coaches for the Tornados will vote on that award.

Sheena Smith, whose son played for Jemtegaard’s football team, had high praise for her son Jayden’s football coach. Smith said the football team is a family, who just lost a huge part of their program.

“It is going to be hard to see them out there without him by their side,” Smith said. “Shawn treated Jayden like a son. He loved him and pushed him hard. He knew what Jayden was capable of on and off the field and expected him to live up to it.”

She said Jemtegaard always believed in her son and gave him the support he needed.



“At the end of the day, Jayden knew Shawn always had his back so it made Jayden work harder for him,” Smith said. “Jayden is the football player he is because Shawn gave him a chance.”

Like Smith, Rachael Barger’s son Kaynen Barger, best known as Tootsie, played for Jemtegaard in the TCYFL Tornados program. She described the situation as a heartbreaking tragedy.

Tootsie told the Nisqually Valley News his coach accepted him when he was a new player on the team.

“Being a lineman, Coach Shawn was the dad of lineman so we just got each other,” Tootsie said. “I think Coach Shawn was the ‘it factor’ for our team.”

Tootsie’s older brother, Landen, had the chance to coach at the youth football level with Jemtegaard. He described Jemtegaard as a great motivator.

“As the head coach he always made sure that the team got a fair shake. The past season, Shawn allowed me to coach alongside him. He gave me full reign with the offensive and defensive line,” Landen said.  “Together we created a plan of attack and he took time to hear my voice as a coach and I appreciated that. The sideline won’t be the same without him.”

Costello was arrested on Saturday, April 22, on suspicion of second-degree murder. He was held in Thurston County Jail with a bail amount of $500,000. Judge John Skinder said there was a possible likelihood Costello could commit a violent crime if he was released, according to The Olympian.

“This case is somewhat unusual in the sense that Mr. Costello does not have any prior significant criminal history, but the nature of the allegation is so extreme,” Skinder said, according to The Olympian.

During the hearing, Chelsea Jemtegaard, the victim’s wife, spoke after attending the bail hearing at the request of Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Wayne Graham.

“I am a single mother now of six children,” Chelsea Jemtegaard stated in The Olympian article. “One of the children was on the scene with his father and witnessed his father in the incident. To have him (Costello) out would be terrifying at this point.”

The Olympian reported the probable cause statement described the investigation from law enforcement’s perspective. The Olympian noted a police officer arrived on the scene and observed several people gathered around the victim.

A witness was reportedly applying pressure to Jemtegaard’s torso, when police officers observed a dime-sized gunshot wound with no active bleeding.

Following the shooting, medics transported Jemtegaard to nearby Providence St. Peter Hospital for an emergency surgery, according to The Olympian, where he was later pronounced dead.

According to statements, Jemtegaard’s 13-year-old son was reportedly sitting in the front passenger seat of his father’s vehicle at the scene.

Costello’s arraignment hearing is scheduled for May 9.

To donate to the GoFundMe pages, go online to https://tinyurl.com/22pmrt5t or https://tinyurl.com/enesbw5x.