Inquest into shooting of John Williams starts (na woodcarver shot by cop)

[uppityperson]

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2013892533_inquest10m.html
Dashcam vid @ link also, you don't see Williams getting shot but you hear the whole thing.

(clip) More than four months later, the public search for answers will start Monday morning with the opening of a court inquest into a shooting that has drawn sharp community criticism and has been found to be unjustified in a preliminary Police Department review.

The eight inquest jurors won't be asked to weigh whether Officer Ian Birk is guilty or innocent of wrongdoing in the Aug. 30 shooting. But the fact-finding hearing could help shed light on one of the most controversial Seattle police shootings in years, and may determine whether Birk could face criminal charges or the loss of his job.

No inquest in King County has ever led to the filing of criminal charges against a police officer involved in a fatal shooting, which is not surprising since inquest juries generally have found that officers acted properly.

Even if jurors determine Birk acted improperly, it doesn't mean he would be likely to face murder or manslaughter charges, as some have urged. State law makes it extremely difficult to bring criminal charges against a police officer who uses deadly force....(more, including story of what happened)

[Wash. state Desk Jet]

1. When the video was released what came to mind first is execution

fallowed by suicide by cop. We don't exactly know what went down in those 7 secs. But shot in the back rules out intentional suicide by cop .Execution is impression and fallow up thought was suicide by cop. A judge ordered the release of the video for public viewing. My guess would be the judge did not like what was there and not there.

What we do know is that his fellow officers at the scene ruled the shoot unjustifiable and that says a lot.What we do not know is anything about witness's who may or may not have seen and heard what went down.

One thing is for certain, the thing unfolds in a court of law and not in public forum ,therefore we must wait for the details to be released.

Haven't read anything about a military back round the cop may or may not have. Post traumatic stress syndrome.

What that looked like to me is something you would see after dark in L.A.
Seattle is not L.A.

It was a sad sight to see.

[uppityperson]

2. I had strong opinions before viewing/hearing the vid, then I got really pissed

Being hard of hearing, if I heard someone yelling "hey, hey, drop the knife" I'd probably turn to see who was being yelled at. Then I'd get shot in the side since I would probably also have a "stern look", that of concern, on my face. Both of which apply to Williams also.

The woman in the vid who is peacefully passing by not watching, then startles and turns when he is shot, to me this shows it wasn't much of a confrontation.

[Wash. state Desk Jet]

3. What I do know form observations in the streets of downtown

is that a lot can happen inside 7 secs .and I think the only real way to understand that is to have observed police operating in hot spots as is street terminology. I can go back to the 80's when there were multiple drugs dealers and pan handlers on every corner and in between at mid day ,than after dark it got worse. Incidents on bus's too.

One thing I know from solid observation is that no two people see the same thing the exact same way.
All that means is that I cannot see what went down beyond the camera.And from my experiences through observations ,I would not front judgment. However my first impressions are very often correct although not always.

I suppose we have to take into consideration the woman walking ahead of Williams with the shopping bag and equate that to how it is the cop perceived that situation.
I do not think how it was perceived by the cop through a professional observation in any way justifies the shooting and I think that determination was already made by investigators on the scene.

The cop said-he would not drop the knife almost as if he cold not believe he would not drop the knife and of course you would assume the cop had no knowledge of Williams hearing disorder or Williams for that matter.
raises the question ,how long had the cop been patrolling downtown ? Williams was a well known rover in the downtown area,police keep track of street activity an homeless activity in the streets. How can a roving patrol cop assigned to a downtown patrol area not know anything about street activity ? Just some questions of mind.

The cop appeared to have drawn his gun at the patrol car. It seemed so.

If the same situation with the lady walking across the street with a shopping bag and steps behind her ,and there were quite a few of those, had happened in oh say suburban Kirkland or Bellevue, I would imagine that would be cause for high alarm,but a immediate call for back up will have happened and there will have practically instantly been any number of patrol cars on the scene.

It appears as though the cop in question elected to not make the call and decided to go ahead on into the situation and handle it himself,gun drawn. But I don't know all the details surrounding that.

What it looks like is a rouge cop.

At the same time my experience through observations reminds me that 7 street seconds is not the same as 7 secs. passing in time,things go down and get out of hand quick. Quicker than you would even believe.

At the same time the shoot was ruled unjustifiable by his fellow officers and that may just point to rouge cop.

What I do know through my own observations is that I am not the least bit afraid to look at the facts head on straight away. And I have listened to other observers of the same incidents standing but a few steps away from me twisting what actually went down every which way but the way it happened.

My first impression upon viewing the video was exaction. That would translate to killer rouge cop.

So for me at least it is better to reserve judgment or opinion .It is up to the jury to break down and take apart those 7 seconds. And I do not imagine that will be a easy task to sit through and view.

I have no doubt Williams the carver was victimized at the very least by a cop with a bad attitude.Call it stressed out or inexperienced whatever they call it. Simply put, is the guy such a bad shot that he just could not shoot Williams in the leg to take him down if he really thought he had to fire his weapon ?

But again, I dono, I did not see what went down inside those 7 secs.

[Wash. state Desk Jet]

5. Didn't catch the newspaper till late

on page 8 second column about mid way there is but one sentence about witnesses account.
scant for information it says in one line

Witnesses told police they didn't see williams act in a threatening manor.

The knife was located in the closed position.

And department commanders changed their take on what occurred after the news conference the next day.
Ok so the story was that Williams attacked Birk the cop - and that had to have been Birk's testament to what went down. From the video we assume Birk was the only cop on the scene .Unless there was another cop out of camera view . Doubtful although we don't know for sure. So Birk's word as he described what went down to his superiors was the word of a cop sworn to uphold the law as told to his superiors.

So it is safe to assume that the credible witnesses of mention actually saw it go down and would therefore have been out of the cameras view or to the right of the camera.

The witness you mentioned was walking away from the scene than turned after having heard the shots fired ,therefore she could not have seen what went down prior to the shots having been fired.

Still you have to ask, what exactly does they didn't see Williams act in a threatening manor mean ?Didn't see as in didn't notice as if to say was vaguely paying attention,or didn't see meaning disputing the cops statement of what went down ? And what were the lines of sight in relation to the exact position of the shooting.

What we do know is that a cop with gun drawn in pursuit will draw the undivided attention of most any conscientious observer/bystander,what have you. Although some people will simply move on or away from potential danger. Think about it, a cop in pursuit with gun drawn.

The cop being a trained observer must have been aware of bystanders,or that was oversight,given five shots were fired off and four hit the carver. One stray. I dono, the more you think into it the more complicated it gets.

It does seem to point to a rouge cop though doesn't it-(?)

27 yrs. old with 2 years experience.No mention of prior service or military service.

[uppityperson]

6. Yup. Birk (cop) said Williams had a "stern look" and shot him in his side

To me that shows he was shot as he was turning to see who was yelling and why. A "stern look" to pow pow pow pow pow in under 4 secs. It does seem to point to a rouge cop and I hope the SPD get their shit together soon and quickly as this should not have happened, and/or this cop should never have been able to be out on his own like this.

Question: if he were afraid for his life, why didn't he call for backup which came so quickly after he shot? They would have been there within moments but no, Birk left his car, gun in hand.

Rogue cop and something is rotten in the way the force is run.

[uppityperson]

4. Demonstrators mark first day of inquest into fatal shooting of woodcarver

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2013896219_inquest11m.html

About a dozen protesters, including Native Americans, gathered Monday morning at the King County Courthouse on the first day of an inquest into Seattle police Officer Ian Birk's fatal shooting of First Nations woodcarver John T. Williams.

Outraged by what they consider an unjustified shooting, some marchers wore headbands saying "4 seconds to death," a reference to the time between when Birk first ordered Williams to drop a knife and the fatal shots.

"Sometimes you just have to draw the line," said Abe Johnny, a First Nations member of the Cowichan band who has lived in Seattle since 1953. "The Seattle Police Department has to follow their own policies. Do they mean 'justice for all,' or do they mean 'justice for just us?' "

(clip)
Some witnesses told police that Williams did not act in a threatening manner and are expected to testify at the inquest. Their recollections will be crucial in sorting out an incident that was only partly captured on the dashboard video camera in Birk's patrol car.
(clip)
(more)

[Wash. state Desk Jet]

7. Did not

is very different from did not see as it said in the Seattle Times.

I would imagine persons who are fimiliar with what goes on down in the streets have some hard opinions too.What you call the street wise.

If than I were to imagine a rouge cop with gun drawn who would use that gun without hesitation given any reason justified or not ,than I would also imagine that the thought would occure to the rouge cop that if a shot to cripple the target were to be ruled unjustified ,than the target would than in turn sue the city and that would not only reflect very badly on the cop but could or would result in termination.

Those would be the thoughts of a rouge killer cop if I were to imagine that.

Thoughts pass in the split of seconds too.

That's if I were to imagine.

[uppityperson]

8. Officer testifies he felt threatened before shooting woodcarver

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2013905500_inquest12m.html

(clip)Birk told inquest jurors that he believed Williams was impaired when he saw him carrying a knife on a Seattle street. "The way he was carrying himself and his posture indicated he was in some sort of altered state," Birk told jurors in the inquest into the shooting.

That, "along with the knife in his hand, made me concerned he might make someone uncomfortable or be a threat," the 27-year-old officer said.

Oh f'ing liar. He was walking along not bothering anyone. Yes, I watched the video. He's walking, concentrating on what he's doing, not bothering anyone.

Seattle Police Detective Jeffery Mudd also testified that he would have dropped a knife if ordered to do so at gunpoint by a police officer — a reference to Williams' failure to do so just before he was shot. Mudd told jurors that Seattle police officers are trained to treat as an immediate threat anyone standing a short distance away with an edged weapon.
(clip)
Mudd, in response to another question from Ford, also testified that none of the witnesses saw Williams make threatening actions before he was shot. Witnesses are expected to testify at the inquest.

You instigated something, got up close then shot him when he turned to see if it was he you were yelling at. Because he had a "very stern, very serious, very confrontational look on his face. If you were trained to treat as a threat anyone standing a short distance away with an edged weapon, WHY the FUCK did you run up to him that close? Seriously?

If I am cutting up an apple with a pocket knife, you yell at me (from behind) and I turn to see if it is me you are yelling at, you are trained to shoot me? Wtf?

If you thought he were impaired and a threat, WHY did you get that close that you felt your only recourse was to kill him?

Stay tuned for more as this proceeds.

[uppityperson]

9. photos of scene, knife, etc.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/ABPub/2011/01/11/2013908114.pdf

[uppityperson]

10. Birk says he was surprised woodcarver's knife was closed (no shit sherlock)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2013914908_inquest13m.html

UPDATE AT 10:35 A.M.: Under questioning by Ford, Birk demonstrated the "aggressive" move he said Williams made toward him before the shooting, making a half turn with the knife in his hand.

POSTED AT 10:33 A.M.:
Seattle police Officer Ian Birk testified Wednesday morning that he was surprised to find that woodcarver John T. Williams' knife was closed after their deadly encounter.
(clip)

"Did you think, 'My God, the knife is closed?' " asked Ford. "It did surprise me having just seen Mr. Williams with the knife in his hand," said Birk.

Moments earlier, Birk shot Williams four times after seeing him cross a Seattle street carrying the knife and a wooden board. Williams' family has said Williams used the knife, which has a three-inch blade, for carving. Birk said Williams ignored three commands to drop the knife before he opened fire. On Tuesday, Birk testified that he feared for his life when he confronted Williams and told jurors there was "no doubt in my mind that an attack was coming."

[uppityperson]

11. Detective: No witnesses said police shooting victim a threat

http://www.seattlepi.com/local/433175_inquest11.html

[Wash. state Desk Jet]

12. Still trying to figure out how Birk (the cop)

made all the associations threat-odd behavior- altered state of some sort or other and he said he feared for his own safety.

Again to get a mind wrap around that I have to imagine the same thing going down in downtown Bellevue or Kirkland., about the same way. The thing is I cannot imagine the patrol cars arriving at the scene after the fact in those two cities.

Joe,a guy who works out of the Million airs Club and who is by definition ,street wise.Joe said ,that's it,you got it.
Now you ever hear the term farm boy? Suppose Birk the cop grew up out there somewhere where the apples grow and the buffalo roam a small town where everything is easy going and simple? Downtown to farm boy was about 2 city block long with a general store ,a dentist office, The doctors office the Five & Dime what changed to K Mart you know, down town is just about a block . The rest is farms.

Sure Joe said, in Bellevue or kirkland it will have gone down different. common sense will tell most anybody if you think to need to draw yer weapon or will, yer going to want backup fast. you have to want back up fast and cops are also trained to back up fellow officers in THAT very kind of situation fast, you know ? That is police emergency and requires immediate back up. You were in the military what's general alert or general quarters on a ship.
All hands to battle stations right? Officer requires immediate assistance . That's why there will have been five cars on the scene in a seeming flash instant in Bellevue ,in Kirkland and in Seattle if that alert had been initiated.

The hell put the whole situation as it were in farm boy's home town and than try to get a mind wrap on how farm boy saw what farm boy saw .Kirkland and Bellevue is the big city too ya know ?

But yer right said Joe, when I do work in Bellevue or Kirkland ,things are a little different and what I wouldn't want to seem like is anything odd or out of place . You know dress code and appropriate mannerism which of course applies here as well. joe points to a change of cloths he keeps in a back back pack-these are my get the work done cloths ,what I got on is travelers. Joe uses Metro to commute.

But it looks like farm boy became cow boy doesn't it ? He decided to handle it himself-make my day all that.
But like you say I think he lied to his superiors about what went down and most likely didn't see the witness's ,- wide open range all that

From Joe down at the Million airs club.

Joe had a point and when you put it all as it went down in a town where downtown is one block and the rest is farms ,it is none the less outrageous and completely out of order. What you call unjustified .Birk thought the carver was unseemly and could not tolerate. He acted alone which is rouge.

There was zero effort to defuse the situation because nobody else was called in to assist.It will seem the cop was not interested in the least bit to be taken under radio advisement. Drop the knife is a command order. The gun is power. Lack of experience may the culprit.

[uppityperson]

13. The logic escapes me

IF Birk thought Williams was perhaps a danger to others, and IF he had been trained to shoot if getting within a certain distance of someone with a knife, then WHY did he approach him as he did? Why did he not call for backup ("no time"?)? Then why did he approach him close enough to feel he was endangering himself?

I hope all this will get the SPD to look at their training.

[Wash. state Desk Jet]

14. To protect and serve is the reason he positioned himself the way he did.

As trained observers cops will notice and or spot odd behavior or what is out of the ordinary. That's altered state of some type or other by Birk's statement. to patrol in downtown Seattle or big city downtown anywhere odd is ordinarily seen . If every person who seems odd and out of pace by how it is one carry's oneself were locked up in the jails for even just a few days there would be no room in the jails for criminals.

So what Birk saw was a trained professional observation lacking experience in the field. Basically a raw observation with zero experience to draw from making critical decisions and acting upon those decisions.

The only thing that can save Birk's ass now is the book.I wonder if Birk was aware people were watching or even there ?

Simply ask this question-if Williams had survived the shooting,what kind of a case would it be ?And could that have anything what so ever to do with why it is five shots were fired off ?

Scuttlebutt: Criminals are not the only one's that know and know how to operate through the in's and out's.

I do not think it is entirely impossible that the cop thought his own life was in danger,but if that is the case that cop does not know his ass from a hole in the ground or doesn't care to.

The reason I bring up the suggestion is because of the inaccurate statement Birk gave his superiors about what went down. That seems to indicate his side of what went down was altered to provide himself with a legal justifiable cover. In short to cover his own ass.

Again, I wasn't there and did not see.

[uppityperson]

15. Witness testifies Officer Birk 'more aggressive than I was expecting'

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2013914908_inquest13m.html

Witness Amy Gill testified that she saw a man — Williams — in beige carrying what she thought was a cardboard box or paper bag. She heard someone — Birk — yell "hey, hey," then heard gunshots fired at about the same time. Deputy Prosecutor Mindy Young asked whether Gill saw Williams "do anything that you perceived as threatening?" "No," Gill said.

(clip)

(John)Hartsfield testified Wednesday afternoon that he was in a car on Boren Avenue on Aug. 30 when he saw Birk's patrol car with its lights activated. Hartsfield said the door opened and an officer got out and placed his hand to his side, drawing out a shiny silver object that Hartsfield assumed was a handgun.

Hartsfield said the handgun was in a half-raised position as the officer crossed in front of the car and made a hand gesture at someone out of Hartsfield's view. Soon after he made the gesture, the officer raised his gun and fired what Hartsfield thought were four gunshots.

Hartsfield said he didn't sense "any delay at all" between the time the officer exited the car and when the shots were fired. "I was shocked and surprised. He seemed more aggressive than I was expecting," Hartsfield said of the officer. Under questioning by Ford, Hartsfield testified that the officer only stopped moving forward in the direction of Williams after he raised his firing arm.

(more)

[uppityperson]

18. Picture of that oh so threatening "stern look". Thinking cultural differences

Police officer Birk demonstrating what he says he saw Williams look like.


Now, let's look at some other pictures of John Williams. Gee, I wonder if it is possible he was turning with a frown because he was trying to see who was yelling? Shot for having a stern look and not hearing well. As far as the cultural differences in OP, some cultures do not walk down the street smiling at cops. Or other strangers.

[uppityperson]

16. Witness contradicts Seattle police officer's version of woodcarver shooting

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2013926779_inquest14m.html

John T. Williams did not hold up a knife or do anything threatening before he was fatally shot by Seattle Police Officer Ian Birk, a key witness testified Thursday.
(clip)

In response to Ford's questions, Birk testified that shortly after the shooting he told a witness, a responding officer and a detective that Williams had not complied with his order to put down the knife. He acknowledged that, at that time, he did not tell them that Williams had threatened him, as he later alleged.
(clip)

It wasn't until hours later, Birk testified, that he provided a detailed written statement alleging that Williams had brandished a knife and displayed "pre-attack indicators" that included a set jaw and a stern look. Birk, who confronted Williams on a sidewalk at the intersection of Boren Avenue and Howell Street, said he originally decided to question Williams "due to his unusual behavior" and because he was carrying a knife and a piece of wood.
(clip)

Ford also asked Birk whether he was trained in de-escalating tense situations. Birk said he was and that he had successfully used the techniques in the past. Ford played video and audio recorded on the dashboard camera of Birk's patrol car in which Birk can be heard yelling: "Hey, hey, hey," followed by three commands to "Put down the knife." After that, Ford mockingly wondered if Birk could point out "the places where you are not trying to be overbearing and intimidating?"

[uppityperson]

17. (kuow) is warning given?

http://kuow.org/program.php?id=22344

Questions on Wednesday revolved around Birk's wording when he approached Williams, a First Nation's woodcarver who Birk says was carrying an open carving knife and a piece of wood. Audio from Birk's patrol car records Birk repeatedly telling Williams to "put the knife down" in the seconds before he fired. Tim Ford, the attorney for Williams' family, pressed Birk on whether he could or should have clearly told Williams that he would shoot if Williams did not obey him. Birk responded that he was doing the best he could, since he felt increasingly threatened by Williams.

Later, Birk's attorney Ted Buck returned to the topic. Buck: "Is warning someone that 'I will shoot you if you don't do this' or something along those lines required under police dept policy?"

Birk: "What is required of us is that we give a warning of the use of force when feasible."

Birk says the warning can be given in various ways, either by naming the consequences or by giving a lawful order with a weapon in hand.

[uppityperson]

19. The Stranger's take today

http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2011/01/13/day-four-into-williams-inquest-civilian-witnesses-say-williams-was-not-a-threat

This morning, two civilians who witnessed Native American woodcarver John T. Williams shot by Officer Ian Birk while walking down a city street both testified that they neither saw Williams acting in a threatening manner nor brandishing a knife at Officer Birk.

Thomas Sirgeas was headed north on Boren Avenue (from capitol hill). He was on the northeast side of Boren—directly across the street from Officer Birk and Williams—when the altercation took place. Sirgeas testified that he could see both Birk and Williams during the shooting and his sight line was unimpeded by traffic driving by. He said he paid close attention to the incident from the time the officer turned on his car lights and exited his vehicle. Here's what he saw:

"As I’m coming down Boren," Sirgeas stated, "I notice a cop car pull up, it didn’t come all the way to the intersection, which caught my attention. I saw the officer step out of his car, gun pulled, a big bulky square gun, that really got my attention." Sirgeas said that he thought the gun was a taser. "The gun pointed to the ground. I saw the victim walking on the same side of the street, headed towards downtown. He had his back to me, I thought he was a homeless person—he was wearing a big heavy jacket, walking real slow towards downtown."

"The officer then went in front of his car, raised his gun, and came on the sidewalk… he yelled twice, I didn’t hear what he said—he had his back to me—almost immediately after he yelled twice he shot three times." Sirgeas testified that he only saw Williams turn his head once—not twice, as Birk testified....

[Wash. state Desk Jet]

20. Turn his head is far different

from a full body turn. Birk (the cop ) gave a very different statement claiming Williams was positioning himself for attack mode.

Sirgeas -his visual line of sight was unobstructed -very different from what was reported yesterday. The clear unobstructed visual carry's weight.

And Williams did not show any apparent signs of threat with his knife and was not holding it up and open.

And there are two eye witness's. 7 secs. total,4 from command. Officer is 28 years of age.

[uppityperson]

21. I hope Birk has issues with all this, knowing what he did, but he can get to

having peace about it at some time. 28 yrs. Shaking my head. I hope he is able to accept what he did, then is able to find peace with accepting his part.

[uppityperson]

22. If that was really “the very best” that Birk could do — shoot four bullets into a man who posed no

Letters to the editor
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/northwestvoices/2013939995_inquestcontinuesintofatalshootingofwoodcarverbyseattleofficer.html

. Can we even imagine?

That man has no business with a gun and certainly not a badge. I’m tired of the weak, contrived excuse that police officers have a tough job, and so we should just let it go.

How tough was his job that day? He had watched a man slowly and drunkenly amble in front of his squad car moments before the shooting. Williams must have looked like easy pickings."

Testimony is to resume Friday and continue next week at the King County Courthouse in Seattle.

[uppityperson]

23. Witness: Man shot by police 'seemed well-behaved'

http://www.seattlepi.com/local/433460_inquest14.html

Several witnesses have said John T. Williams wasn't threatening, and some have said they thought the officer who killed him, Ian Birk, acted more aggressively than expected. The Williams family attorney, Tim Ford, has continually brought up two points during inquest testimony: Witnesses didn't see Williams threaten or attack anyone on Aug. 30.

Nancy Bushman, who was near the intersection of Boren Avenue and Howell Street on the day of the shooting, said Williams didn't appear aggressive. "He seemed very well-behaved and like a normal pedestrian, just walking as I was," Bushman said during the fifth day of testimony. "So I didn't hardly have any reason to look any more carefully."

Deanna Sebring, who was walking near the incident, testified on Thursday she thought Williams might be manipulating something, but didn't see aggression or other actions that would prompt the shooting. Barbara Newman, who saw the incident from her car going southbound on Howell Street, testified Thursday that Seattle Police officer Ian Birk raised his gun before Williams turned, and said she didn't witness aggressive behavior.

Newman also said she never saw Williams turn to face Birk and never saw him take a step toward the officer. Birk testified that Williams glanced back once, then turned with an aggressive posture that he believed, based on his training, indicated an attack was imminent....(more)

[uppityperson]

24. Woodcarver's brother testifies during shooting inquest (habit to close his knife when talking)

Since the knife was found closed, and he was turning towards the cop, seems more and more the cop was "mistaken".

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/theblotter/2013966967_inquest_resumes_into_spd_offic.html

During Tuesday morning's testimony, Williams' brother, Rick Williams, testified that it was his brother's habit to close his knife whenever he spoke with someone. John T. Williams' knife, which his family has said was used for carving, was found in the closed position after he was shot, according to investigators.
(clip)
Birk had earlier testified that John T. Williams had crouched, looked at him sternly and brandished the knife just before the shooting.

Also testifying was Amy Stires, who was driving in her car Aug. 30 when she witnessed the shooting. She said Williams appeared to be holding a clipboard (likely the piece of wood he had been holding), but she did not see the knife. She testified that she didn't see Williams turn toward Birk before the shots rang out. "I couldn't believe what I saw," she said tearfully.

Under questioning by Buck, Stires testified that Williams was hunched over before the shooting.

[eridani]

25. This is just evil. As I removed my expensive hearing aids this evening

--I thought "Dammit, the guy couldn't HEAR him! He almost certainly couldn't afford hearing aids."

[uppityperson]

27. Indeed. Even with my aids, even family who hear well, all say they'd do

as John Williams did, turn to see who was yelling at them. Peacefully walking along carrying a legal pocketknife, minding your own business. Hearing noise of someone yelling behind them, turn to see if it were you.

He couldn't afford hearing aids.

He had a "stern look" on his face? So? It was sunny (odd, I know), he was Native American, he was drunk. All of which explain the "stern look".

If cop Birk was trained to shoot someone if he was within a certain distance of someone with an "edged" instrument, then WHY the FUCK did HE run up and get so close?

5 seconds to getting out of his car, escalating the situation and bam.

I sure hope the Seattle PD looks closer at who they hire, how they train him, etc.

I wish Birk showed the slightest remorse in what he did, took the slightest responsibility beyond defending himself.

Thanks for reading this, wasn't sure if anyone was, but this story hits me on several levels.

[uppityperson]

26. Jury to begin deliberating on officer's fatal shooting of carver

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2013971154_inquest19m.html

Jurors will try to untangle the city's most controversial police shooting in years as they begin deliberations Wednesday morning into the fatal shooting last summer of woodcarver John T. Williams by Seattle police officer Ian Birk.

Although jurors will only answer a series of questions, they will be asked two that are considered key: Did Birk believe Williams posed a threat? And did Williams actually pose a danger?

(clip)
After the last witness testified, King County District Judge Arthur Chapman reminded the eight-member jury that an inquest is not a trial, but a public inquiry into the circumstances and causes of the shooting. The jurors' answers do not have to be unanimous; they have the option of answering yes, no or unknown.

The King County Prosecutor's Office will review the answers and determine whether criminal charges are warranted.


(more, including witness statement round up)

[uppityperson]

28. Questions being weighed by shooting inquest jury (here they are...)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/theblotter/2013975733_list_of_questions_being_delibe.html
Jurors are weighing 13 questions (with subquestions). They do not have to give unanimous answers. They can say yes, no, or unknown.

(clip 1-6a)
6b: Did John T. Williams have sufficient time to put the knife down after Officer Birk's order? 6c: Did John T. Williams try to put the knife down after Officer Birk's order? 6d: Did John T. Williams put the knife down before Officer Birk began to fire his weapon?:

7. Was the front of John T. Williams' upper body partially turned towards Officer Birk when Officer Birk began to fire his weapon? 7a: If no, was John T. Williams turning towards Officer Birk when Officer Birk fired his weapon?
(clip)

10. Did Officer Birk believe that John T. Williams posed an imminent threat of serious physical harm to Officer Birk at the time Officer Birk fired his weapon?

11. Based on the information available at the time Officer Birk fired his weapon, did John T. Williams then pose an imminent threat of serious physical harm to Officer Birk?
(more@link)

[uppityperson]

29. Jurors still out

http://www.seattlepi.com/local/433778_inquest19.html

Jurors for the inquest into the Aug. 30 shooting death of woodcarver John T. Williams spent more than four and a half hours deliberating Wednesday, and are scheduled to reconvene Thursday morning for a ninth day. The six-person jury, which deliberates with two alternates, is being asked to answer 13 questions, some with multiple sub-questions. The group is comprised of six men and two women.

One of the questions asks if Williams' knife was open at the time he was first observed by Ian Birk, the Seattle police officer who fatally shot him. Birk has said it was, but investigators photographed the knife closed at the scene. Williams' older brother, Rick, said in the last day of testimony Tuesday that they were taught to close their carving knives when talking to people.

Another question asks if Williams had sufficient time to put the knife down after being ordered to by Birk. Birk has said he had to act immediately to stop a deadly threat. His patrol car footage indicates the first of at least four shots was fired about five seconds after the officer's first command to put the knife down.

Jurors also have been asked if Williams posed an imminent threat of serious physical harm to Birk when Birk fired his weapon....

[uppityperson]

30. Inquest jury says Williams didn't have time to drop knife

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2013989423_inquest21m.html

Four of eight jurors determined that woodcarver John T. Williams didn't have sufficient time to put down his knife before he was shot and killed by Seattle police Officer Ian Birk in August. Only one juror found that Williams had time to put down the knife before the shooting. Three other jurors answered "unknown."

(clip)

On another critical question, four jurors said that Birk believed Williams posed an "imminent threat of serious physical harm" when he was shot. Four jurors answered "unknown."

(clip)

On the next question, whether Williams posed an imminent threat of serious physical harm "based on the information available at the time," four jurors believed Williams did not. Only one juror believed he did, and three answered "unknown."

(clip)

Jurors weren't asked to weigh whether Birk was guilty or innocent of wrongdoing in the shooting. The King County Prosecutor's Office announced immediately after the inquest that it will conduct an independent review of the findings to determine whether criminal charges are warranted. That review is expected to be completed in mid-February....(more)

Read the Jurors answers:
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/theblotter/2013987011_1_on_august_20_2010.html

[eridani]

31. Contribute to the memorial totem pole

To finance, carve, and raise a memorial totem pole in the City of Seattle in 2011-2012.Description:John T. Williams, a Ditidaht master carver, was shot and killed by Officer Ian Birk of the Seattle Police Department on August 30, 2010 while carrying a small, legal folding knife that he used for carving. His family, all master carvers also, will carve a 30 - 40 foot totem pole in John's memory, and then have a traditional raising ceremony to permanently erect the pole in a public space in Seattle.

Contact csmartin67 {at} gmail.com
About:Working to raise funds to erect a totem pole in a public space in Seattle, carved by the Williams family, to honor the memory of their brother, John T. Williams.