Naveed Afzal Haq was born in the United States to Pakistani parents. He grew up in an immigrant family in the Seattle area. His early life was influenced by his family's cultural background and Islamic faith. Naveed faced challenges growing up, as he sometimes struggled with feeling like he did not fit in with his peers.

As a young boy, Naveed participated in typical childhood activities. However, as he grew older, he began to show signs of emotional and mental health struggles. These challenges continued into his teenage years.

In 2000, Naveed moved to Pasco, Washington, where he completed his education. He later enrolled in a community college but did not finish his studies. His struggles with mental health became more apparent over time. He went through several periods of intense emotional distress and sought treatment for his issues.

In December 2005, Naveed made a significant change in his life when he converted to Christianity. He was baptized at an evangelical church in Kennewick. Despite this change, he stopped attending church within a few months. He remained disconnected from any religious community until two weeks prior to the shooting incident in Seattle, when he reappeared at a local mosque.

Naveed's family described him as a typical young man who had moments of kindness but also faced deep personal conflicts. They were shocked and devastated by his actions that led to the incident at the Seattle Jewish Federation.

On July 28, 2006, Naveed Afzal Haq entered the Jewish Federation building in Seattle, Washington, armed with two semi-automatic handguns and a knife. He forced his way through a security door just before 4:00 p.m. Haq targeted the organization after searching for information related to "something Jewish."

As he entered the building, he allegedly grabbed a 14-year-old girl who was the niece of an employee and held a gun to her back. He ordered her to use the intercom to gain access to the offices. After entering, he demanded to speak with a manager. When the girl found a chance, she hid in a bathroom and called 911.

Haq then shot several women as he moved through the building. He asked one employee for help and fired at another, showing no hesitation. Witnesses reported hearing him shout about his anger toward Israel. He shot multiple employees, including Layla Bush, Cheryl Stumbo, and Christina Rexroad, all of whom sustained serious injuries. The shooting culminated when Pamela Waechter was fatally shot while attempting to escape.

During the event, Dayna Klein, who was pregnant, was also shot. Despite her injuries, she managed to call 911 while Haq threatened the lives of those in the building. He eventually began to negotiate with the police, expressing his motives about political conflicts.

Haq surrendered shortly after 4:15 p.m. when he decided to put his guns down. He walked out of the building, hands raised, and was taken into custody. Following the shooting, he was charged with multiple counts, including murder and attempted murder.

The legal proceedings for Haq began days later. He made a brief attempt to plead guilty but later chose to plead not guilty. His case went through several trials, leading to a conviction on December 15, 2009, where he was sentenced to life without parole plus additional years for the other charges. The shootings led to a strong public outcry and discussions about hate crimes and violence in society.