Indians demonstrate outside Seattle inquest
- Details
- Parent Category: News
- Category: Social Issues & Criminal Justice
- Published: 14 January 2011
Seattle, Washington (AP) January 2011
About a dozen Indians and other demonstrators pounded drums and sang outside the King County Courthouse this week before the start of the inquest into the police shooting of a Native American wood carver.
The Seattle Times reports some wore headbands saying 4 seconds to death. Thats a reference to the time between when Officer Ian Birk ordered John T. Williams to drop a knife and when Birk fired the fatal shots.
Birk saw Williams carrying the knife Aug. 30 and said he fired because Williams didnt respond to three commands to drop the knife. Witnesses say Williams did not appear to be a threat.
The King County prosecutor will use the inquest findings to determine whether to charge the officer.
About a dozen Indians and other demonstrators pounded drums and sang outside the King County Courthouse this week before the start of the inquest into the police shooting of a Native American wood carver.
The Seattle Times reports some wore headbands saying 4 seconds to death. Thats a reference to the time between when Officer Ian Birk ordered John T. Williams to drop a knife and when Birk fired the fatal shots.
Birk saw Williams carrying the knife Aug. 30 and said he fired because Williams didnt respond to three commands to drop the knife. Witnesses say Williams did not appear to be a threat.
The King County prosecutor will use the inquest findings to determine whether to charge the officer.