Seattle got a shock this week when King County prosecutors announced that they will not be filing any criminal charges against Seattle police officer Ian Birk for the fatal shooting of John T. Williams Local News | No charges against Seattle officer who shot woodcarver | Seattle Times Newspaper.
The Firearms Review Board reached their own conclusion that the shooting of Williams, which occurred on August 30, was not justified. This determination would enable the Police Department to open an internal investigation, which could result in disciplinary action, including officer Birk’s firing.
Birk beat them to the punch and formally resigned from the Police Department, effective Wednesday Local News | Birk resigns from Seattle Police Department | Seattle Times Newspaper. His resignation will not stop the investigation however. By continuing the department’s administrative investigation, it could prevent Birk from working as a law enforcement officer anywhere in the state of Washington.
The decision not to file charges came after an inquest jury had mixed opinions as to whether Birk’s actions were justified. Four of eight jurors felt that Birk was under no threat of harm; four believed Birk was in imminent danger, and four were undecided. Prosecutors considered the inquest results when deciding whether to file charges.
As to the Williams shooting itself, there have been widely varying opinions as to what really happened. Birk reportedly saw Williams holding a knife and a piece of wood (he was a woodcarver). Birk crossed to the other side of the street where Williams was and asked him three times to put down the knife. When Williams did not respond, Birk shot him four times. Birk contends that Williams showed signs of being impaired while holding a knife, and appeared to be confrontational. Two witnesses at the scene testified that they did not see any threatening behavior by Williams.
Understandably, the community has followed this case closely. There are widely varying opinions about this case, including a great deal of public outrage for what appears to some as an unprovoked attack on a citizen by a police officer. Protesters marched towards the Seattle Police precinct and the downtown area after the decision was released.