Seattle Police Shootings

Metro bus gunfire suspect described by passenger as 'trouble'

SEATTLE -- Seattle Police arrested two people after a gun went off on a Metro bus in downtown Seattle Thursday.

King County Sheriff's spokesman Sgt. John Urquhart said the incident happened at Third and Seneca streets just after 1 p.m. on Route 125.

As a male and female passenger boarded the bus at a stop, police said they were causing a commotion.

Passenger Vaun Raymond said he knew he was looking at trouble the minute he saw the male suspect get the bus.

"Some guys you can just tell, you know?" said Raymond, who was among a half dozen passengers on the bus at the time.

As the man sat down, officers said a gun went off.

The bullet bounced through the floorboard of the bus, and bounced back up, grazing the calf of a female sitting nearby on the bus. Police said she didn't require any medical treatment. The bullet also struck a window, partially shattering it.

Transit police nearby heard the gunshot and responded. Officers said as soon as the shooting occurred, the man and woman quickly got off the bus and ran into the bus tunnel. That's where law enforcement caught up to them and arrested them. 

The incident disrupted the a busy downtown area as police blocked off the street for two hours. Welcome.

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No charges in woodcarver shooting by Seattle police officer ...

King County Prosecuting Attorney Dan Satterberg points to the Washington State law regarding use of force by a police officer while announcing he will not not pursue criminal charges against Seattle Police Officer Ian Birk during a press conference on Wednesday at the King County Courthouse. Birk shot and killed Native woodcarver John T. Williams in August. Photo: Joshua Trujillo/seattlepi.com / SL

King County prosecutors will not pursue criminal charges against a Seattle police officer who shot and killed a homeless woodcarver in August, Prosecutor Dan Satterberg said Wednesday morning .

Announcing his decision on the controversial shooting, Satterberg said the evidence gathered does not support state charges against Officer Ian Birk in the slaying of John T. Williams .

That decision drew criticism from the Williams family attorneys , who suggested Satterberg took Birk at his word while ignoring other witnesses to the shooting.

Calling the shooting "troubling," Satterberg said that the "obvious and legally available defenses" -- chiefly that there is no evidence indicating Birk acted with malice toward Williams, as required by state law -- would leave a jury with only one decision if asked to convict Birk.

"A jury would be compelled to find Officer Birk not guilty," Satterberg said.

"There is no evidence to show malice," the elected prosecutor continued. "There's no evidence to refute Officer Birk's claim that he acted in good faith."

Minutes after Satterberg announced his decision, Seattle Police Chief John Diaz released a firearms review board report finding that Birk's actions were not justified . Another top police official called the shooting "egregious," and Seattle City Councilman Tim Burgess suggested Birk ought to be fired .

Birk shot and killed Williams, 50, during daylight hours on Aug. 30 after confronting him at the intersection of Boren Avenue and Howell Street in downtown Seattle. Birk later told a jury at a non-binding shooting inquest that Williams was carrying an open knife; Birk fired seconds after telling Willaims to drop the knife.

Satterberg went on to note that he understands why the shooting caused concern among the public. He said he shared that concern, but asserted that a fruitless criminal prosecution would not be appropriate.

"The officer seems to have made serious tactical errors that compounded the danger to others and himself," Satterberg said.

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