Man with knife shot, killed by Seattle police officer

vnouvelle said on February 16, 2011 at 12:54 AM

kst123 the victim was whittling a piece of wood. Not robbing someone. Calm down. You sound like a crazed crack head. What scares me is that you are armed.

kst123 said on February 15, 2011 at 8:35 PM

Cops don't fire warning shots and they dont shoot to wound. Cops SHOOT TO KILL PERIOD. When a Police officer draws their gun, that's pretty much it. Police officers are trained to use deadly force and they 'do' use that force in threat related situations -especially when the perp is brandishing a weapon with the intent to harm/kill. So, if the officer in this situation was faced with a knife and commanded the victim to drop the weapon and the victim did not do that, then that's why he was shot. Again, police officers use deadly force as they are instructed to do. Our rights as citizens is pretty amazing when it comes to self defense with a gun. Washington state is a 'stand your ground' state. Someone pulls a knife on me, then I will shoot that person. So, was I there? No, I didnt see what happened. Could it have been handled differently? More than likely from what I know. JMO

buwalla said on January 13, 2011 at 1:01 AM

I posted this comment 4 hours ago and it didnt post why? So ill post it again. I would like to know why the officer did not fire a warning shot ! I would like to know why if he is a qualified police officer trained to shoot a weapon, why did he have to fire so many shots. I think even i could bring a man down with one shot to the leg or some other place that hopefully wouldnt take his life. Why would i shoot a man with a carving knife four times if i am a trained police officer. And by the way, what happened to the tasser? dont they have tassers. Really what next, am i next to be shot or abused by arrogant police officers because of my opinions? You guys are suppose to serve and protect not accuse and abuse. Many police officers do serve and protect and understand how to deal with the public, and i thank you for your service. There is no doubt in my mind, and i think i feel many others, that this officer should be terminated.

buwalla said on January 12, 2011 at 8:56 PM

Why has my comment not been posted?

jta07 said on September 9, 2010 at 4:44 PM

shouldbwrking, You really are missing some very important information. Or purposely ignoring it?

jta07 said on September 9, 2010 at 4:37 PM

brentallica, I strongly suggest putting yourself in someone else's shoes besides the officers. Try again.

jta07 said on September 9, 2010 at 4:33 PM

drashto, oh brother! How can I say this nicely but just cannot after reading your nonsense. I just got to say Shut Up!!

janicerennells said on September 1, 2010 at 7:50 AM

This is a perfect example of shot first ask questions later. We all need to stand up for what is right and protest these unjustice acts. This cop needs to spend time in prison. If we the people don't stand up and voice our opinion then we should expect a lot more of these situations happening. Cops can't just get away with murder because there trained cops. There supposed to uphold the laws not break them. Mr.Congress men are you there? Do something.

deathmask said on September 1, 2010 at 12:59 AM

I wouldn't encourage any person to avenge these murder though. That might be illegal. I'm just encouraging God, insofar as that's possible. God, are you listening? Kill some cops.

deathmask said on September 1, 2010 at 12:55 AM

I'm praying in earnest that someone avenges these murders. I want cops to live in fear.

cjcampbell said on August 31, 2010 at 11:26 PM

Well, now we know that in fact the victim was at least partially deaf, had his back turned to the officer, carved wood for a living, was a relatively well known artist (albeit a poor one), had a 3 inch folding knife, threatened no one, did not behave strangely, and was probably shot in the back. So you people who think the police are infallible, do you still believe that this officer fired in legitimate self defense?

rumski said on August 31, 2010 at 9:44 PM

I was visiting the aquarium on Sunday with my twin nieces and girlfriend and saw the man who was wittling wood...he was making foot tall totem poles. He seemed to be very focused on what he was doing. He was a small man...about 5'7" 160 lbs. What I would like to know is, why didn't this idiot cop use other methods to subdue him? A tazer would of been more appropriate.... The police are going to far...but this is only the beginning. The Nazi's were stopped, so the police and elitist controlling them will be as well. Just wait, there will be retaliation...not by me, but others who hate the police even more.

nwforlife said on August 31, 2010 at 5:09 PM

Protect and serve....ya right... What a complete joke....my guess is this piglet grew up with his panties around his neck in high school, then found a way to slip into the system and get a badge. What a true shame for the few...and I mean few...good cops. ....RIP homeless man....

luna1sierra said on August 31, 2010 at 4:25 PM

....let us hope that the poor man was not deaf...or english impaired/non-speaking. It would be nice if they could wait to kill citizens until they have done something wrong......innocent until proven guilty , remember? remedial classes should be required.

freedomfrank said on August 31, 2010 at 2:13 PM

freemonttroll,,, its good you mention that. I read thru the memorial page for fallen officers it appears that about1/2 die from various traffic accidents. Why are so many cops dying in a car? My guess would be lack of a seat belt. The page doesnt go into detail but I remember a lecture when I was in the Navy, this old WSP dude says "I never pull a dead body from a seat belt" that stuck with me my whole life. So are these officers not wearing seat belts?

kingster said on August 31, 2010 at 2:06 PM

I don't understand how whittling a piece of wood constitutes a crime. I can see why an officer would defend himself against a knifeweilding man. It sounds like a wholly avoidable death, however, unless the police can explain why the officer paid any attention to the man at all.

freemonttroll said on August 31, 2010 at 1:58 PM

Conversely, a cop is killed every 57 hours....

silverton said on August 31, 2010 at 1:43 PM

When is Officer Shandy Cocaine and the female officer going to be arrested on assault 1 and battery? Will King 5 ask the chief when his "fast tracked" investigation will be completed? Wasn't the crime committed in April? Perhaps it is time for some citizens to arrest some officers.

silverton said on August 31, 2010 at 1:38 PM

The quote from Diaz is Um priceless. The police will not say weather or not the officer approached the man with his gun drawn, thus startling the man. The police left that out of the statement yesterday, because they don't want to alarm the public about a cop who creates trouble. I am convinced that the officer did not approach to man in a clam, professional manner. He pounced on him and scared him, and then executed him.

stryker said on August 31, 2010 at 1:24 PM

With all the people the Fing cops murder, and none of you has noticed... they are not improving the crime rates with their killings. Hope your feeling good about yourselves. One of your kin will be next. Support that.

gritz said on August 31, 2010 at 1:16 PM

MCD Dude, you need some meds. Do you think typing in caps will make your words louder? Since you have no idea of who you are talking to, would it not be pertinent to refrein from generalizations. I am not one who blindley beleives all cops are good. There are some that are bad and unfortuently, those are the ones people remember. Secondly, this does not sound like like one of your instant life or death decision situations.

freedomfrank said on August 31, 2010 at 12:48 PM

Interesting excerpt form a study done on police killings. About 9,500 people nationally were killed by police during the years 1980 to 2005–an average of nearly one fatal shooting per day. And the failure to address unjustified shootings frankly is likely to lead both to greater community distrust of police and an increased probability that the hostile interactions that often precede the shootings will continue. “Unless we begin to hold these officers accountable in these cases, they’ll only grow in number and significance,” Jones-Brown said.

jwalters said on August 31, 2010 at 12:39 PM

Tomorrow's Headline: Man shot for using cell phone in sight of officer. Seriously, this is crazy. I know there are plenty of threatening people out there walking the streets of Seattle, but a guy sitting on a wall whittling? Granted he may have been one of the people constantly begging for change for a drink, but this was handled poorly. Even if he was wielding a pocket knife. My question is, where were the other officers before the shooting? I live on Summit and Pine, and at any given second at least six cops are ready to appear to harass some random drunk or random person for being "black in public". Why weren't there other officers at the scene before the shooting? Why wasn't the guy, at the very least, pepper sprayed or even tased? I understand the man was prompted to drop his weapon before he was shot, but did the officer ever think to exam the man slightly closer. Perhaps he had a hearing problem, or one of those catatonic homeless people we so frequently overlook... Crazy.

hologram5 said on August 31, 2010 at 12:33 PM

Oh, and he was shot 5 TIMES in the chest.

hologram5 said on August 31, 2010 at 12:32 PM

Nice way to leave OUT the fact that he was whittling a PIECE OF WOOD when the officer accosted him. He was not threatening anyone in any way. Read KOMO'S story, it's a little more in depth.

freedomfrank said on August 31, 2010 at 12:30 PM

janicerennells,,,, thats a great story about your cousin. The Navy is a great place to turn your life around and it sounds like he is well on his way. Awesome story.

cjcampbell said on August 31, 2010 at 12:07 PM

The officer made a bad decision to confront a man who was no threat to anybody in the first place. Then compounded that bad decision by not retreating and calling for backup. The ONLY person threatening the general public with a deadly weapon was this officer! Nowhere in the story does it say the victim was "brandishing" the weapon or threatening the officer. Nowhere does it say he was acting irrationally. Just given the facts in the story, this officer made a bad decision and killed someone who did not need killing. I doubt very much that many police officers think this situation was handled properly.

janicerennells said on August 31, 2010 at 12:06 PM

I see the website finally found some people with an IQ higher then there shoe size. brentacilla. For your information. My cousin is fighting over sea's for the people of America. A year ago he was a homeless man in Seattle. Slept on the streets for 2 months before he was accepted into the Navy. He has already earned awards for great service. Wow. Imagin that a homeless man turned hero. This man in your eyes would have been one of those lower class people that need to be thinned out. Yet he is fighting for you to be able to raise your children and have a nice warm home to go to at the end of the day. I think you need to change your name to Hitler instead of brentcailla. And yea you are shallow. Still the issue at hand is was this excessive force necessary. That anwser in my opinon no.

wise_up_america said on August 31, 2010 at 11:47 AM

Gritz YOU GOT IT MAN! YOUR POST IS RIGHT ON THE MONEY!

wise_up_america said on August 31, 2010 at 11:44 AM

You guys go ahead and let the cops and our government become the gastopo! What law did this citizen break to be harassed by police? They have no right! There job is to uphold the law! WHAT LAW WAS BROKEN BY THIS CITIZEN??? What law was broken that the officer was upholding? NONE! Its sad but true the police have no right to stop you for what you may do in the future! Why because they don't know you will do it and cant see the future! You must break the law before the police can say you did it! They won't shoot you in the leg because you will file suite and win! I don't have to keep my hands out of my pockets and the cops have no right to shoot me or order me to remove them! I HAVE DONE NO WRONG AND THEY HAVE NO AUTHORITY!!! That is why we are mad about this! THE POLICE HAVE NO RIGHT IN FACT WE ARE THE ONES WITH THE RIGHTS! Why do you think they want to take them from us??

gritz said on August 31, 2010 at 11:42 AM

This will be interestiing. First, the police did not have probable cause to deter the man. They could have and should have observed the man, deemed him to be or not to be a threat and left him alone.So far nobody is saying the man was a threat to anyone except to the officer pointing gun at him.It seems once you start to add up all the police violence reports ie.. mentally ill jaywalker, hispanic wrong person beat down,wrong person thrown into wall w/permenant brain damage, police punch woman in face. These are only the ones that I can think of recently. Now this; While I respect the police and understand they have a tough job, I also tend to agree that there are some bad cops out there. With cell phone technology, alot of things that use to be sweept under the rug are now coming to light. SPD is gaining an image problem fast.

freedomfrank said on August 31, 2010 at 11:13 AM

holycow Komrade holykow,,,, lets all get in line for our daily brain washing!!!! Good grief man,,,

shouldbwrking said on August 31, 2010 at 11:12 AM

I totally agree with snohomish22. If you have a weapon...no matter your intentions...if the police tell you to drop it then drop it! Police officers cannot tell what your intentions are. I'm not someone that blindly defends police officers. I'm fully aware that there is excessive force used in some cases. Bottom line is, people need to comply with what the police tell them to do in a situation like this. I can't understand why, if you mean no harm, would you not do what they say? And to all those saying things like it's so easy to knock a knife out of someone's hands, or why didn't they tase him, etc. All it takes is for an officer or bystander to get close enough to get cut, and then they potentially die! I cannot criticize and say what they "should" have done because I have not had any kind of training for something like that. I'm guessing some of you commenting haven't either.

holykow said on August 31, 2010 at 11:05 AM

Basic Rules for Dealing with Cops: 1) Make eye contact, smile 2) Make SURE you have no weapons in your hands and keep your hands out of your pockets where the cops can see them 3) Be nice, not combative. Comply with the instructions given by the officer. If you do not do this, you will get beat down or worse. Plain an simple. If you turn towards a cop with any weapon (board, pipe, knife and especially gun), you will be ordered to drop it. If you do not DIRECTLY comply, you will be engaged with violence. If you are drunk or high and mouth off to the officer or proceed in any way that is not directed by the office, you will get beat down or worse. This is not abuse of power. This is the world in which we live. If you are operating a knife in public on the street, you could have a cop stop by and check to see what's up...what you do not do is turn toward the cop with that knife and not comply with instructions to put it down. This goes before a review board, no charges. hk

snohomish22 said on August 31, 2010 at 10:57 AM

If a cop tells you to drop the Knife,then just do it, you will live longer and everyone get to go home at the end of the day

wise_up_america said on August 31, 2010 at 10:46 AM

Yes hitler had the same idea! Murder all of the people that don't seem the same as him or don't meet his standards of how others should be. "Thinning of the herd" You are just another murderer that thinks just because the man was homeless and or a drunk he should be killed for whittling wood not harming anyone! You may not be able to teach some as they are handicapped and you are a shallow idiot! You think that you are perfect and that all others are lower than you so they should be killed! Truth is there is no law that says you can't be homeless or a drunk. There is no law that says you cant whittle wood. There is no law that says you cant have a knife! This persons right to whittle wood has been violated! This persons right to live has been violated by a cop that had no reason to even talk to him! As for all of you that just feel he should be killed should feel lucky you are not a jew hitler felt they should be killed. This should have never happend..

bazwest said on August 31, 2010 at 10:41 AM

We obviously don't know the full situation here, but it seems that attitudes towards the police and non-compliance is worsening in our society. Many of the public lack an appropriate respect for authority. They believe they are an authority unto themselves and have no duty or obligation to any other form of authority even a police officer. Well, they are wrong and perhaps in this case "dead" wrong. On the other hand we have a police force that feels threatened on a continual basis by the very public they are called upon to protect. Too often, and perhaps too quickly, they feel they need to use deadly force to protect themselves and those around them. We have a media that doesn't just report the facts they sensationalize them. It seems to me that we need more of a conciliatory dialogue going in our society if we are to ever see this situation improving again. We need the police and they need our basic cooperation. It is for our own good after all.

comiccon2010 said on August 31, 2010 at 10:41 AM

make sure your kids don't whittle any wood thw cops will shoot them because their childhood sucked. give a guy a badge and gun and they think the laws below them

samshine1 said on August 31, 2010 at 10:36 AM

I think the police are shooting people so they can go on paid leave

saera said on August 31, 2010 at 10:31 AM

i'm wondering why the cop didnt use a taser first. or a club. smacking the knife out of the guys hand with a club isnt rocket science, nor is a taser shot to the chest. some of these cops are awesome, some, not so much. too many these days are just agressive powertripping bullies. if you dont comply fast enough, down you go. this guy could easily have been hard of hearing or a bit 'off in the head' and was just confused or didnt hear the command right off. i'd like the autopsy to check the man's ears.

idealjulia said on August 31, 2010 at 10:27 AM

Wait a minute.... I just looked at the 12 pictures posted to the information. 2 of the pix show 3 officers taking a grey bearded man down to the ground. If these pictures belong to this news then why would they need to shoot him if they already had him on the ground? Something is missing or miss-stated?

evets2010 said on August 31, 2010 at 10:23 AM

Let me guess Brentallica. You're a church going man too, right? WWJD? Shoot the poor guy? With the seething hatred you so easily throw out, I'm curious if your family is as proud of you as you apparently are of them.

brentallica said on August 31, 2010 at 10:11 AM

Harmless people don't brandish knifes as officers of the law Einstein..... I have two sons who are both Eagle Scouts and very well adjusted. My daughter is a happy stay-at-home mom. Sorry you have so much difficulty with the truth and the real world. Enjoy your warped reality of la-la-land. Hope you never need a cop!!

evets2010 said on August 31, 2010 at 10:01 AM

Wow. There are some seriously awful comments from people that live in the surrounding "safe" suburbs that are glad Seattle is suddenly a safer place. I sure hope Brentallica doesn't have kids, as they sound like potential future prison inmates to me. Given that, why the hell don't the cops aim for a leg in these situations? Do they really need to kill a guy who was probably some harmless homeless drunk? Every time you hear of a cop killing one of these types it makes you wonder what kind of training they're getting,

dakotanative said on August 31, 2010 at 9:57 AM

If someone I know charges a cop with a knife, I will feel bad, but also intelligent enough to realize the cop was right. And for you non-lethal people, a pierce county cop just used a tazer on a guy, which killed him. Works so much better.

brentallica said on August 31, 2010 at 9:49 AM

@JaniceKneels - If it's ok for mentally challenged people (or anyone for that matter) to brandish weapons at police, then you live in a crazy place lady that I'm glad I don't. For your sake, teach your autistic kid, to respect authority and comply with officer requests. Manners and cooperation could've saved the psychos life which you hold in such high regard. (I'm still very happy he's gone and Seattle is a safer place w/out him.)

janicerennells said on August 31, 2010 at 9:36 AM

All you people need mental help. My son has a mentally challenged. Autistic to be exact. Thinning the herd..wow. Yeah your right we need to thin the herd. People that say those types of things are the ones who need to be thinned out. You obviously need to go back to school. Learn the difference between man and animals. This cop used extreme unnecessary force on a fellow American citizen. 4 to 6 shots fired into the chest was more then enough to kill. Over kill. A lot less force could have been used. Thats the issue at hand here anyway. Could this man still be alive and apprehended without paying for it with his life. And as far as feeling sorry for the cop who gets to wake up and fill his lungs with air and see his family. F that. I feel sorry for you people who are clearly sociopaths with absolutly no compassion for human life. Next time it could be you or somebody you know getting 4 bullets in chest for a redicilous reason.

freedomfrank said on August 31, 2010 at 9:32 AM

drashto,,, there is always exceptions to the rule. Please don't try and convince me "most" cops act the way your friend did. I do not feel sorry for the cop, I feel sorry for the general public who is now living in fear from the police. We are slowly turning into a police state and no one seems to care, I'm sure your comments would be different if it were your loved one who is in the morgue today.

wise_up_america said on August 31, 2010 at 9:28 AM

The man was whittling wood thats what he was doing! The officer had no 911 call or reason to harass the man! Its none of your business what the man was doing until he breaks the law! If you had just kept going none of this would have happend! Now you get a paid vacation on us! Truth is its none of your business what we the people are doing! Your job is to protect and serve but all cops have lost that part of the job. You took that off all the cars as you don't serv us you wish to beat us into submission or kill us until we conform to your way of thinking. This officer should be tried by a jury of 12 but it will never come to that! People stay in your homes close the blinds lock the doors the police are coming! No citizen is safe!

brentallica said on August 31, 2010 at 9:11 AM

"Thinning of the herd" by removing it's most "non-productive" members is practiced by virtually every species on earth. Human evolution still hasn't made it quite that far..... You should be feeling sorry for the cop who had to end his life. Had the officer used restraint, the cop could very easily be the one laying in the morgue this morning. When your life is threatened, you have a split second decision to make. No time to sit and ponder. The cop did the right thing. And Seattle's a safer place this morning. Thank you SPD.

drashto said on August 31, 2010 at 9:11 AM

To freedomfrank: A good friend of mine is a police officer. Last week he paid a $113.00 ticket for speeding and he didn't tell the officer he was also a fellow police officer!! He just said, yep I was speeding, apologized and took the ticket. I am reading these posts and laughing. Last time I checked, officers are not linked to a medical record chart explaining the persons medical history; handicapped, hard of hearing, mentally challenged. When a person comes at you with a knife and you have asked them several times to stop and put the knife down, do you take a moment to reflect instead of taking action to protect yourself. NO! When you go through the police training or actually take the time to learn what they do, then make your comment.

kameha said on August 31, 2010 at 8:56 AM

yes

janicerennells said on August 31, 2010 at 8:33 AM

Do you even know this man? His name? His background? do you know his children, grandchildren, mother, sister's or brother's? How do you know this was a "bad person"? As far as I have seen we don't even know his name. I mean come on. It's outrageous that this could be acceptable in any community. I have worked with several mentally handicap people who might not understand what is going on at any given moment. Does that make them bad people? Should we kill the gene pool? Ignorance is bliss right.

slidddllllllll said on August 31, 2010 at 8:25 AM

Without all the facts, without being present, it's really hard to say what the sequence of events really were. I do agree, if he is a known street person, that it would have been wiser to use a Taser instead of shooting the man. What drives an officer to shoot 3-4 times? I have no idea, but can't wait for the rest of this story........

double_h said on August 31, 2010 at 8:14 AM

I didn't realize that whittling a piece of wood has become a threat to a police officer....

newlogin86 said on August 31, 2010 at 8:04 AM

What if he was deaf or didn't speak english? Was he brandishing it? Was he poised for attack??? Why did'nt the cop just back away?? Now this I have to say is above and beyond police OVERREACTION

mikecole79 said on August 31, 2010 at 8:02 AM

tm206 and others supporting this officers decision - Thank you!! All of our thoughts and prayers go to the officer and his family. Well done, and I'm sorry you had to face such a situation.

tm206 said on August 31, 2010 at 7:56 AM

hindsight is always 20/20.. police are trained to handle these situations. my bet is most people here are not. Not only are we all speaking on a subject that we have no training or experience with, but some are questioning the judgment of people that we as a society have entrusted with our best training, and equipment to deal with these kinds of circumstances. The police don't go to your job and tell you how to make copies, or type a spreadsheet. Don't tell them how they should have protected you, when faced with a potential armed attacker. Find yourself in that position, and we will see what others hindsight will say about you.

kameha said on August 31, 2010 at 7:48 AM

well done officer, thanks for doing your job and removing another moron from the gene pool, next shoot the lawyers his family are sure to hire.

brentallica said on August 31, 2010 at 7:47 AM

@JaniceKneels - People who come at cops w/knifes and deranged lunatics. Not all loss of life is bad as not all life is productive. I can think of a lot of people the world would be much better off without such as pedophiles, rapists, murderers, drug dealers, gang members, and guys who unprovoked beat up bus drivers. If they all died tomorrow, I think the world would be much better off. That's just to name a few. I'm very happy this loser is no longer part of this community. It is extremely unlikely he was a productive member of it. If he came at a cop w/a knife, I'm sure he'd go at anyone. Good riddens.

mogvet said on August 31, 2010 at 7:25 AM

One word, tazer

janicerennells said on August 31, 2010 at 7:18 AM

and this is for brentallica, speaking of deranged lunitics seems you have currently fell into that catagory, maybe we should get you off the streets. You and people like you are the problem with America. Only a sociopath can find it OK to have a life taken or find murder acceptable if the human is mentally sick or challenged. GET HELP YOU NEED IT>

1beachperson said on August 31, 2010 at 7:15 AM

Very simple - obey the police commands or pay the price. The cop wasn't saying whittling was illegal, he was just asking the guy what he was doing. The guy came towards him holding the knife and refused to drop it when ordered - more than once. Suicide by cop perhaps? Or just sheer idiocy? If a cop tells me to do something, I will obey (within reason) and let it all get sorted out later.

janicerennells said on August 31, 2010 at 7:10 AM

This cop needs to be put in jail. There is a lot of ways he could have handled this situation. Any time that a life is taken without a justified cause the person whom commited the act should be arrest and put in jail. The question is who was the unstable one? The cop or the victim? And do we live in a third world country? Its concerning to me that these cops get away with things like this. If this man that was so wrongly murdered is your family member take this all the way. THIS WAS WRONG> Make sure that he did not die in vain. If you are the cop that did this, I hope you lose everything and get put away.

mikecole79 said on August 31, 2010 at 7:09 AM

While we're on the subject, in no way is whittling considered illegal anywhere that I've ever heard of. However, having a knife in your hands on a busy street, no matter what the reason, can certainly be considered threatening. If a police officer sees that, he is well within his rights to inquire as to what the mans plans are for that knife. If the man talks to the officer and doesn't seem to be a threat, most likely the officer would leave, or maybe ask the man to move to a lesser traveled area, if people around seem nervous of the knife or man, or anyone has complained. If an officer comes up to talk to you, and you come at him with a knife in your hand, you should expect that you're going to die that day. Any other option puts the life of the officer at risk, as well as the lives of anyone else around. The fact that the officer ordered the man to drop the knife shows that he did what he could to avoid killing the man. It's more than I might have done in his shoes.

mikecole79 said on August 31, 2010 at 7:06 AM

If any of you were actually there, I would love to hear your opinion. However, for you folks saying 'shoot in the knee' or whatever, perhaps you should go to a range and try to hit a 3 inch ball that is swinging with a bullet. That will give you an idea of how difficult it is to hit a small moving target. The fact is that if a person is within 21 feet of you with a knife, they can cross that distance and stab or slash at you before you're able to respond with force to stop them. If you respond with less than deadly force, there is a strong possibility that the person will still be able to carry out his threat, injuring or killing you. I carry a firearm with me almost everywhere I go, because I believe that an armed person has the ability to protect himself and others much better than someone who has to find a phone and wait for help to arrive. If a man came at me with a knife, he would die. Depending on how close and how fast he was, I MAY take the time to tell him to drop it.

vivianopasta said on August 31, 2010 at 6:56 AM

@littledude - well said!!

livefreeordie said on August 31, 2010 at 6:54 AM

The badge doesn't make you superior. An idiot is still an idiot. What we have here is an idiot with a badge and a gun. Always a lethal combination.

treeclimber said on August 31, 2010 at 6:50 AM

(LITTLE DUDE) I DID CALL THE COPS OUNCE THEY WENT TO THE WRONG HOUSE,OF COURSE THEY SAID THEY WERE SORRY. AND OF COURSE THEY ASK ME WHAT HE LOOKED LIKE AND I SAID HE LOOKED REAL SCARED WITH MY 410 POINTED AT HIM.THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME THE SECOND TIME THEY JUST TOOK DOWN A REPORT OVER THE PHONE.

dakotanative said on August 31, 2010 at 6:49 AM

Deaf people know not to approach an officer with a weopan and they read lips and body language very well. Non-English speaking people know what an officer looks like and not to threaten them. The guy had no excuse. You approach an officer with a weopan, you pay the price.

chuckstr76 said on August 31, 2010 at 6:37 AM

bottom line, dont come towards an officer with a knife in your hand and dont appear threatning, must be hard for some people to comprehend this....problem solved.

cjcampbell said on August 31, 2010 at 6:30 AM

Whittling means you are mentally unstable? Appalling. Whittling is a threat to public safety? Appalling.

cjcampbell said on August 31, 2010 at 6:25 AM

First of all, I do not hate cops. I believe that officers have a right to self defense. Some of the comments here have been appalling. It is okay to shoot deaf people or non-English speakers because they are a minority? Appalling. Whittling is a suspicious activity? Appalling. Carrying a steak knife is a crime? Appalling. Where do you guys get your ideas of the law, anyway? Appalling.

hologram5 said on August 31, 2010 at 6:23 AM

You know, I don't call on the police for anything. The days of "trust" are over. I never put myself in a position to need their help. With that said, this could/should have been settled without a man dying. I thought that's what they issue tazers for? I don't read into this anywhere that the man threatened the officer in any way shape or form. With Diaz's response here: "We had an individual with a knife. He was asked, um, commanded to drop the knife and it appears that he didn't," He sounds like a wishy washy fool. Too many people like this here. Take a stand, fight for your rights. The second amendment does not stop at firearms, it doesn't say anything about what accounts for personal safety. This is a sad day when you can't whittle on a piece of wood for fear of being shot.

freedomfrank said on August 31, 2010 at 6:04 AM

The sheep want police, the weak, the lazy, the mindless blobs wandering around the planet. I want the government to put criminals in prison (actually punishing people), I want the borders closed and the street gangs deported, I want real deterrents for driving like an idiot,I want all the mentally ill to have a place to live, it seems we are going about this all the wrong way here and everyone is happy with MORE COPS,MORE COPS. Instead of curing the disease we just keep taking pills to mask the symptoms. I want personal accountability, by citizens and the police. I want the police to actually be punished when they break the law. When was the last time you think a cop actually got a speeding ticket? Benefits of the job you say? Think about that, how many other "professional courtesy's" do cops get? Wake up sheeple,,, wake up.

brentallica said on August 31, 2010 at 6:01 AM

Another deranged lunatic off the streets. No problems here....

whatsyurbeef said on August 31, 2010 at 5:25 AM

Based on this write up alone it appears as though deadly force could have been avoided. But unlike some of you meathead quick to judge bloggers I can't make a judgement call, why ? I was'nt there. So put a lid on it.

unwantedguest said on August 31, 2010 at 5:22 AM

The idiocy and lack of knowledge displayed by most of these posts is astonishing.

stryker said on August 31, 2010 at 4:56 AM

"whittling a piece of wood with a knife" is against the law in SEATTLE.

yessir said on August 31, 2010 at 4:26 AM

it's quite easy to read a flurry of comments on a news blog and surmise, "wow... look at this public distrust of the police". I suppose it could be disheartening for a police officer, or the family member of a police officer to read some of these comments. Remember however, that this is a internet blog, and in no way a scientific sampling of society. You will notice a small disjointed gang of antagonists (I say disjointed, because by and large they hate one another as well) among these threads consistently attacking government (particularly the police) for their own personal or political reasons. Interestingly enough, the comments inherently are more indicative of their own sense of failure, than any true commentary on the police, or government at large. Yes, every time there's an officer involved shooting, there's some outcry, but as you'll notice, despite the nuts rants... no one takes away the police's weapons. The citizens of this nation want police and that's not changing.

littledude said on August 30, 2010 at 11:21 PM

I LOVE how some people are sooo anti cop but then UH OH if something happens to them they EXPECT the COPS TO DO WHATEVER NECESSARY TO DEFEAT THEIR ENEMY OR HELP THEM, dont call 911 if you hate cops. You should try it if someone breaks into your house with a knife :) lets see how far you get without using lethal or aggressive force like those A HOLE police do

treeclimber said on August 30, 2010 at 10:42 PM

pete i would shoot the idiot in the knee. but cops can,t hit the broad side of a barn,took him 4 shots to hit him,probly closed his eyes and kept firing.

mcd1975272738114 said on August 30, 2010 at 10:35 PM

ALL OF YOU ANTI - COP, HE SHOULD HAVE DONE SOMETHING DIFFERENT IDIOTS........UP YOURS!!!! YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IT IS LIKE TO BE CONFRONTED WITH A LIFE THREATENING SITUATION. ALL OF YOU WOULD PEE YOURSELF AND RUN SCREAMING LIKE 5 YEAR OLD GIRLS. OUR POLICE OFFICERS HAVE TO MAKE INSTANT LIFE OR DEATH DECISIONS ALMOST WEEKLY......YOU MORONS ARE CLUELESS BAFFOONS!!! GOD BLESS OUR POLICE FORCE, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE!!!!

deafjimbo9924062 said on August 30, 2010 at 10:18 PM

look at the ops know to use the self defense with knives or wood batons there are no excuse for deadly forces. shame on polices! USE COMMON SENSE. YOU HAVE THE EYES!!!

eric1972sea said on August 30, 2010 at 10:13 PM

I have lived and worked in the area of the shooting for 20 years and the victim and his buddies are a well know crowd of homeless men who like to get drunk and cause trouble. They are also not fond of the police or any authority for that matter so I would say the cop was justified.

pete33 said on August 30, 2010 at 9:58 PM

All you anti-police jerk off morons, if someone came at you with a knife, you would do the same exact thing as the police officer or you would act like a stupid, pathetic bleeding hearted liberal and try to understand why the man has a knife and then of course get stabbed.

pete33 said on August 30, 2010 at 9:58 PM

All you anti-police jerk off morons, if someone came at you with a knife, you would do the same exact thing as the police officer or you would act like a stupid, pathetic bleeding hearted liberal and try to understand why the man has a knife and then of course get stabbed.

pete33 said on August 30, 2010 at 9:58 PM

All you anti-police jerk off morons, if someone came at you with a knife, you would do the same exact thing as the police officer or you would act like a stupid, pathetic bleeding hearted liberal and try to understand why the man has a knife and then of course get stabbed.

blackhand said on August 30, 2010 at 9:49 PM

STOP POLICE BRUTALITY!

thunderbird3 said on August 30, 2010 at 9:33 PM

TASER GUN?

comiccon2010 said on August 30, 2010 at 9:20 PM

another cop who doesnt need to be a cop. trigger happy and seems like he was out to harrass the homeless guy when it didnt go his way he opened up on him. now we will never know the truth as the cop made sure of that

treeclimber said on August 30, 2010 at 9:15 PM

once again a cop with gun and don't have the training to use it.

taxdollarsponge said on August 30, 2010 at 8:36 PM

Bang,vacation.

brewster said on August 30, 2010 at 8:02 PM

Here is jackwong with his anti gun blabber again! The guy had a knife, not a gun! The police officer had the gun! Why don't you read the story before you pour your BS out!

dakotanative said on August 30, 2010 at 7:59 PM

Ya know, I can't count the number of people I see whittling wood while sitting on the curb every day in the downtown area. Oh, maybe because it never happens. It might seem a little unusual to someone who is trained to pick out unusual activity. Why didn't the cop use a beanbag gun? Maybe because it is not something he carries on the average routine encounter with the community. Why not use a taser? One misfire and he has a knife 6 inches deep in his chest. non-leathal weopons are used when the officers have time to react and mostly when they have time to plan out the deployment of the weapon. Tasers are usually used when several officers are handling a suspect, and usually after several warnings. Beanbags are generally used by riot control officers. Deadly force is used when the officer has a sudden threat on his life. The people calling for this officer's head are in the same class as those calling for the head of the officer that killed Maurice Clemmons.

invalid said on August 30, 2010 at 7:53 PM

@cjcampbell: Give it a rest, Chris. The police blotter report is a little bit better. It says the guy was sitting on a retaining wall with a knife. The officer thought it was unusual (we pay them to notice unusual stuff), so he stopped and contacted the man. The man got up off the wall and approached the officer with knife in hand. He was ordered to stop and put the knife down. He did not stop. He did not put the knife down. There you go. @tom8toe: You can't load a service pistol with beanbag rounds. Those would be in the shotgun inside the patrol car. He didn't really have time to run back to the car and get it. And the police don't shoot to kill. They shoot to stop the threat. It may result in death for the one who is shot. Such are the consequences of disregarding orders from the police. These guys can't win. Somebody gets punched because "He didn't use enough force!" Somebody gets shot - "He used excessive force!" They really can't win.

lsmith5870400119 said on August 30, 2010 at 7:43 PM

Jackwong, you have your head in a dark place if you thing by banning guns, that they will just disappear.

dkjamerican said on August 30, 2010 at 7:25 PM

I wasn't there and the aren't enough facts to say yea or nay. With all the police officers being shot & killed these days I see how many would be on edge. And any one stupid enough to approach a person with a gun with the knife drawn was either stupid, crazy and dangerous or committing suicide by cop. If I was put in that situation I couldn't say I would have responded with the same actions.

comiccon2010 said on August 30, 2010 at 7:20 PM

glad the chief likes the um um um um

mi584 said on August 30, 2010 at 7:04 PM

Based on what has been reported so far this sounds like a justified shooting. Whereas it is not illegal to whittle a piece of wood, it could be considered suspicious. Probably not at a campsite in Granite Falls but in downtown Seattle yes. I know it breaks everyone's hearts but the police are allowed to contact anyone they choose and just chat if that person so desires. If this person happens to be you, don't move towards the officer with a weapon in your hand then refuse to drop it. You'll probably get shot. Prayers to the suspect's family, the people that had to witness the traumatic event, and the police officer who now has to work through and live with the fact he took a life.

tom8toe said on August 30, 2010 at 7:02 PM

Not really sure why it had to be a fatal shot. What ever happened to using beanbag rounds or other non fatal methods of subduing suspects? Sorry... If he had a gun, that would have been a different matter. But to shot to kill someone with a knife? Unacceptable!!!

blankingout said on August 30, 2010 at 6:35 PM

We pay the police to put their lives on the line for the civilians, like we pay to see Robbie Knievel jump a cliff. Most jumps will be successful, though there is a chance something might go wrong and Robbie in a split second can either veer one way and save his spectators and kill himself or veer the other way, save himself, but kill his civilian spectators. Since Robbie has chosen to take on this responsibility, why is it WA society is giving Robbie a pass to save himself and kill some civilians when he is being paid to put his life on the line?

gritz said on August 30, 2010 at 6:33 PM

Well; I guess we will wait and see the final report says, but on face value, this was a bad shoot. Was the man acting as a threat to the public? Was he involved in something that was illegal? Is it understandable for the victim to be upset for being confronted for doing something that is deemed legal? What was the size of the knife? How many shots were required to render the suspect non threatening? Was deadly force necessary? Did the victim lunge or swipe at the police? Could the police control the situation and been able to give ground and retreat without using deadly force. Sadly, one factor is race, what was the race of the victim and the race of the police? Seattle police currently have a problem with race relations and if this is race related, watch out.

littledude said on August 30, 2010 at 6:29 PM

aerik it was four lakewood cops not three........

speedkills said on August 30, 2010 at 6:26 PM

Ouch Frank, that hurts.

freedomfrank said on August 30, 2010 at 6:24 PM

Maybe,,, just maybe if the budget wasn't so big for cops we could afford to take care of these mentally unstable people.

speedkills said on August 30, 2010 at 6:23 PM

CJ, you're a moron. You know darn well nobody's going to get shot for having a pocket knife in their pocket. You also must be (at least I hope so) smart enough to realize that a very, very, very small portion of the population is deaf and that while the English language seems to be on the decline, the vast majority of people living here do speak it. I really wish people like you (who probably hate cops no matter what the news of the day is) would really think about what you're posting and try to impart an intelligent thought. You're not going to be shot for having an knife or even "looking mean". But you may get shot for doing something that threatens other people's safety and being too stupid to stop when ordered by police.

freedomfrank said on August 30, 2010 at 6:16 PM

To protect and to serve,,,, its the duty of the cops to protect those who can't protect themselves. We've thrown the mentally unstable to the streets and leave it up to you to dispose of them. Then you dare come here,, in public and tell us its OK??? Spineless coward. Yes I said it and I stand by it. COWARD. Some of us who aren't sheep can see the truth.

aerik said on August 30, 2010 at 6:13 PM

jesus.. gimme a break... 1 seattle cop killed.. 3 lakewood cops killed.. 1 pierce county deputy killed.. all withiin the last 10 months.. and you're gonna give SPD a hard time over a guy fronting up with a knife, and shooting him?! seriously.. ever since then, if I was to get pulled over, I'd tell the cop I have a box knife in my glove box just to make sure there's no misunderstainding.. these guys are twitchy, and rightfully so.. call the ACLU friggin hippes.. see where you get.

dakotanative said on August 30, 2010 at 6:11 PM

A dude with a busted kneecap can still throw a deadly knife. A dude with a bullet in his chest, not so much. Maybe the guy was unstable. How many officers get killed by unstable people each year? Ya, let's outlaw guns to make them go away. Works well for drugs doesn't it!

cjcampbell said on August 30, 2010 at 6:09 PM

So why was this officer worried about a guy who is whittling, anyway? And what if the guy was deaf or did not speak English? So, are we just going to gun down everyone who is carrying a knife? How about if it is a pocketknife still in your pocket? In fact, let's just shoot everyone who looks mean. Make "scaring" a police officer a capital offense.

speedkills said on August 30, 2010 at 6:08 PM

@frank: Laughable? I dare to say you've probably never been a situation where you have had to make a split second decision to save your life, or that of another. That said, this is how we are trained. Faced with a deadly threat, we stop the threat. If that means a firearm is the first choice, then so be it. Now, if you don't like that training, I suggest you contact the Criminal Justice Training Commission and attempt to have this portion of LEO training changed. It's funny though that people scream while asking if we are acting within our policies and training, then when we do, people scream about the policies and training. Which is it?

speedkills said on August 30, 2010 at 6:00 PM

Law enforcement in the entire US are trained to shoot for center mass. The center of the largest body part you see is your target. The reason for this is that shooting is a high stress event (no matter how much you train) and shooting at center mass gives you the highest likelihood of an incapacitating shot. Shooting at the knees, shoulder, arm, etc. is for the movies, not real life.

freedomfrank said on August 30, 2010 at 5:59 PM

speedkills,,, gimmie a break. That cop coulda dropped him with a tazer and got the knife. Just a sissy with a gun. Oooooh I'm scared for my life,,,, bang. Why do we keep hiring these sissy boys to be cops? You're comments are laughable.

freedomfrank said on August 30, 2010 at 5:55 PM

No newsmanr6,,, were just sick and tired of the cops. Oh,,, and some of us that are tired of it are professionals who own homes and pay taxes even so shut the hole under you;re nose and let the grown ups talk.

speedkills said on August 30, 2010 at 5:55 PM

In regards to "how far away" was the guy/cop, the standard "red zone" range for a person armed with a knife is 21 feet. In that distance, a suspect can advance and inflict heavy damage before an officer can draw and fire. If the officer already has the gun out, he/she can likely get a shot or two off, but the momentum of the advancing suspect will still bring him to the officer where he can still inflict injury.

speedkills said on August 30, 2010 at 5:52 PM

Alright, I'll "chime in." First off, none of us were actually there so we'll just have to go off of what the news story reports. That said, if you advance on a police officer, or any other person for that matter, you are perceived to be a threat to that person's safety. Doing so with a weapon capable of causing serious bodily injury or death is likely to result in you being shot. Now, for those of you who want taser, or OC spray, or baton strikes, those are not practical in a one on one confrontation. Ever heard "you never bring a knife to a gunfight?" Well, you don't bring a stick, or taser, or spray, to a knife fight. If there are multiple officers, AND TIME PERMITS, yes, you would much prefer to use the less lethal tools, but only with a LETHAL tool as a backup if those fail. This guy is dead because 1) He apparently advanced on an officer with a deadly weapon, 2) Refused to drop said weapon, and 3) Was shot CENTER MASS as is taught by EVERY law enforcement agency in the US.

dasindog said on August 30, 2010 at 5:50 PM

SPD - Taking out the trash, one thug at a time.

newsmanr6 said on August 30, 2010 at 5:48 PM

Wow you guys are fricken idiots. Why don' t you go back down to your parent's basement (we know most of you still live there) and return to playing your video games. The cops did the right thing when being approached by someone brandishing a knife!

freedomfrank said on August 30, 2010 at 5:48 PM

It is funny how KING5 doesn't say it was a white guy,,, we know it was a white guy because if was a black guy that woulda been the first sentence. Was the cop black? Was the guy white? Its OK for the cops to kill white people?

speedkills said on August 30, 2010 at 5:47 PM

Whittling = NOT ILLEGAL Advancing on Police Officer who's ordering you to drop knife = JUSTIFICATION FOR SHOOTING

vickied said on August 30, 2010 at 5:45 PM

Why do cops shoot to kill though? I mean, I understand why he shot, I have no problems with that. But, whatever happened to shooting to keep them from going after you? Like in the knee??

freedomfrank said on August 30, 2010 at 5:44 PM

doug276614834154,,, anyone that would approach a cop with a whittling knife is obviously mentally unstable. Is that cause for a death sentence? The cops have more than one means of non lethal force to use. If this were you're brother or father who had went off the deep end for whatever reason would you still be saying the same ignorant thing you are saying now?

wwueducated said on August 30, 2010 at 5:44 PM

there are multiple, non lethal ways that cop could have handled the situation... have you heard of a knee cap? a shot to the shoulder? guess that's not good enough is it?

doug276614834154 said on August 30, 2010 at 5:27 PM

I can not believe how ignorant you people are. Put yourself in the officers shoes. If someone is coming at you with a knife and you warn him to drop it would you just let it go? If you are that dumb to not drop the knife when warned then you deserve to be shot. Period. Those of you who complain about the police are probably those in their nice cozy office or those who have total disrespect for the officers, those people who put their lives on the line everyday to keep you safe. Get real people!

ramac7716 said on August 30, 2010 at 5:24 PM

alaninseattle if you seen this tell the hole story

rastaj said on August 30, 2010 at 5:20 PM

and.....why doesn't some actual "cop" chime in and explain why this guy is dead??? Come on, don't be silent

rastaj said on August 30, 2010 at 5:15 PM

Wow....No one is safe from the police anymore...........................

freedomfrank said on August 30, 2010 at 5:12 PM

Sooooooo no tazer gun? No pepper spray? What happened to all the non lethal weapons we've spent millions upon millions of dollars buying and training the cops to use. They tazer people for not getting out of cars but not for someone with a knife whittling on a piece of wood????? Comeon people,,,,, enough with these cops murdering people because they can!!!!!

blankingout said on August 30, 2010 at 5:12 PM

First off, common sense, charging a police officer with a weapon, bad idea. Glad the officer we pay to put his/her life on the line for the civilians is fine.

comiccon2010 said on August 30, 2010 at 5:08 PM

if its a straight knife in seattle no length is legal. some accounts he just opened fire no warning

silverton said on August 30, 2010 at 4:56 PM

A 4 inch blade is legal anywhere in the U.S. even on a bus or train. the story is always the same people. The police always say that the suspect ignores commands to drop a knife, etc. and they move towards the officer. Watch future stories and see that the police account is always, always the same. Not that I know what happened here, just pointing out that for years, no matter if you read the NY Times, or Chicago Sun Times, the police use standard PR lines in describing what happened after a shooting takes place. They have been doing this for years and years across the country. In other words, you are to believe that 100 percent of all the people that are killed by police, move towards the officer, and or fail to heed commands. 100 percent.

alaninseattle said on August 30, 2010 at 4:54 PM

There were 5 shots. I was right next to them. Still in shock, I think.

ramac7716 said on August 30, 2010 at 4:53 PM

how far was the suspect from the police officer when he fired.Maybe the suspect did not hear him think maybe this is way he didn't stop

chooper527 said on August 30, 2010 at 4:51 PM

The man failed to follow a lawfull order. Then tried to approach the officers with a knife in hand. YOU NEVER WALK TOWARDS POLICE WITH A WEAPON IN YOUR HANDS. You didnt do that back in the 60's and 70's let a lone now a days!

wwueducated said on August 30, 2010 at 4:45 PM

Hmm... no mention of race... must have been a white man who got shot...

pixelater said on August 30, 2010 at 4:45 PM

OK, one more time for the slow learners. When a police officer approaches and tells you to drop, the knife, weapon, what ever it may be. drop it like your life depends on, because it frequently does.

silverton said on August 30, 2010 at 4:45 PM

If the officer noticed that the man was whittling a piece of wood, why did he have to ask him what he was doing? The cops are killing someone every single week in WA. Hardly any of the shootings are the result of a officer being threatened. They are escalating and killing. What ever happened to the investigation of the racial incident in Seattle months ago? Chief Diaz said at the time that the investigation would be "Fast Tracked"

pixelater said on August 30, 2010 at 4:42 PM

@tugthug, I agree with you whole heartedly, except that there are guns in the UK, but ony criminals have them.

tugthug said on August 30, 2010 at 4:36 PM

The man had a knife not a gun. Jackwong, you are an idiot sir! If you don't like guns then move to the UK where they don't have any!

underserf said on August 30, 2010 at 4:11 PM

Police scanner mentioned a shooting, too much interesting activity to try to monitor JUST the David sector ;)

jackwong said on August 30, 2010 at 4:06 PM

I am sadden by all the gun crimes I see in the last year. If this doesn't call for a ban on all guns, except for officers and military, I don't know what is. These people don't friggin get it, If there are no guns in the market, there will be no need for it, because the bad guys won't have guns either!!! Get it???? I hope more businesses in Seattle at least will ban guns in there establishments so the gun owners will the discouraged to carry it out.

yogibear said on August 30, 2010 at 3:33 PM

Wow. I wonder what the deal was. It is amazing no one else was hurt. That is a busy area during the day.