Translate
Inquest ordered into fatal police shooting in Sodo of man pointing replica handgun
Summary
King County Executive Dow Constantine today ordered an inquest into the fatal shooting of Andrew Law by a Seattle police officer on Jan. 20, 2014.
Story
King County Executive Dow Constantine today ordered an inquest into the fatal shooting of Andrew Law by a Seattle police officer on Jan. 20, 2014.
Police responding to reports of an intoxicated man at a bus stop in the 2700 block of 1st Avenue South say they found him pointing a gun at cars and passersby. Police say the 36-year-old man refused commands to drop his weapon, pointed it at them, and an officer opened fire. Police later determined the object held by the man was a replica handgun.
King County Prosecutor Dan Satterberg recommended the inquest after his office reviewed materials from the Seattle Police Department, which conducted the investigation.
Inquests are fact-finding hearings conducted before a six-member jury. Under a standing Executive Order, inquests are convened to determine the causes and circumstances of any death involving a member of any law enforcement agency within King County while in the performance of his or her duties.
Inquests provide transparency into law enforcement actions so the public may have all the facts established in a court of law. The ordering of an inquest should carry no other implication. Inquest jurors answer a series of interrogatories to determine the significant factual issues involved in the case, and it is not their purpose to determine whether any person or agency is civilly or criminally liable.
The order signed by the Executive requests King County District Court Presiding Judge Corinna Harn to assign a judge to set a date and conduct the inquest.
The ordering of inquests is a function vested in the county executive under the King County Code.
Read the Executive Order on Conducting Inquests in King County at: www.kingcounty.gov/operations/policies/executive/publicaeo/phl711aeo
