SEATTLE — The Seattle Police Department released the body camera video from the deadly officer-involved shooting Tuesday in Lower Queen Anne. They also released the audio recording from a victim who was reportedly threatened and chased at random by a man carrying knives.
The audio recording and video contain graphic content and may be disturbing to some people.
Seattle police said at a news conference Tuesday evening that it was too early to confirm whether the man tried to attack officers with the knives.
“I’m not going to speculate on that,” said Seattle Police Department Assistant Chief Deanna Nollette. “It’s far too early.”
Seattle police said they received several 911 calls around 3:20 p.m. Tuesday about a man with multiple knives reportedly threatening and chasing people near Harrison Street and 4th Avenue West. Police said they’re not aware of the man injuring anyone he threatened or chased prior to the officers’ arrival.
“[Officers] attempted to stop the gentlemen, there was foot pursuit, a very brief foot pursuit; they attempted to use less lethal force and when that failed, they were forced to use deadly force,” said Seattle Police Assistant Chief Deanna Nollette.
Nollette also told KIRO 7 a taser was deployed.
Police said officers provided aid to the man until medics arrived. The medics pronounced him dead at the scene.
“Very, very quick shots,” said witness Kirk Loschky, whose son recorded cellphone video of the police shooting. “There was a lot of bystanders on the far side of the guy, so I’m just glad those bullets didn’t go running into everybody else who was on the bridge.”
Officials have not yet released the identity of the man who was shot and killed by police. The King County Sheriff’s Office will conduct an independent review, which is standard in officer-involved shootings involving Seattle police.
Seattle police are asking for witnesses to contact them.
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