Seattle Police Officer gets away with murder

[ericcastro]

I know we end up with all the big videos of Police doing crazy things.
So I figured this one may strike some cords in some of you, I know it did to me.



A dash cam video from the officer who shot and killed Native American woodcarver John T. William, showing Williams ambling slowly across the street in a crosswalk before the officer opens fire.

Officer Ian Burke can then be seen walking after Williams and shouting, "Hey, hey, hey! Put the knife down! Put the knife down!"

The officer walks off-screen and then five shots ring out in rapid succession, killing Williams.



Williams was a Native American wood carver. ( he was a 7th generation sculpter, and sold his wood carving art to the same store his father had sold his art to. He was carving on the wood when he was killed)

He had a 3 inch knife on him and a piece of wood. (legal knife size in Seattle)

The knife was found closed at the scene (although police released pictures of the knife open.)

Williams was shot in the side (not the front, he was said to be hard of hearing and maybe didnt understand what the officer was saying it happened so fast)

From asking him to put the knife down to shooting Williams, only took 4 seconds.

Officer Birk did not identify himself as a Police Officer ("Citizens cannot be expected to obey people who do not properly identify themselves as Seattle police officers,"Seattle Police Deputy Chief Clark Kimerer said)

Officer Birk did not contact back up or let dispatch know what was going on.(Despite him exiting with his fire arm drawn)

Officer Birk did not take efforts to find cover and instead advanced toward Williams.(which you do not do if its a high risk situation)

A witness testified that Williams never pulled a knife on Birk, and never lunged at the officer.

Firearms Review Board said the board was unanimous in its decision that the shooting was not justified.







Seems like a shit ton of obvious evidence.
In my eyes this Officer is guilty as all hell.
And in the eyes of the Fire Arms review board.
Unfortunatly a 25 year old law that says they can exercise their decision to use deadly force if its in good faith and without malice.

Really sad.
Seattle Police have been getting over the top with the abuse of power lately.