Seattle Police Release Dashcam Video Of Woodcarver's Shooting

A dash cam video from the officer who shot and killed Native American woodcarver John T. Williams was released Friday, showing Williams ambling slowly across the street in a crosswalk before the officer opens fire.

Although most of the action takes place off-screen, Williams is seen walking across the street in front of the patrol car in the video, dated Aug. 30.

The patrol car starts to pul More..l forward, then stops.

Officer Ian Burke can then be seen walking after Williams and shouting, "Hey, hey, hey! Put the knife down! Put the knife down!"

The officer walks off-screen and then five shots ring out in rapid succession, killing Williams.

Birk's badge was later pulled after a Seattle Police Department Review Board and Chief John Diaz reached a preliminary finding that Williams' shooting was not justified.

A judge ruled Thursday that the clip from officer Ian Birk's car could be released to the public after prosecutors had a chance to notify witnesses not to view the tape.

The tape's release comes after a public disclosure request from the Seattle Times.

An inquest into Williams' shooting death by Officer Ian Birk has been set to begin on Jan. 10. The facts of the case will be laid out in the open through the process.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• caught
• on
• tape
• dashcam
• dash
• cam
• dashboard
• camera
• seattle
• police
• shooting
• john
• t.
• williams
• wood
• carver
• native
• american
• cops

[doomsdayarrival]

no volume??? that's 2 minutes of my life wasted.

[minnesotablues]

Fuck that pig. Trigger happy jackass. He didnt even have any remourse.

[1TexasSon]

To all of you that think its such an easy job to be a cop in todays world, join up. But you wont will you. nope just bitch all the time about the cops that protect your sorry butts. Had the cop gotten stabbed by the guy, you would have said "man he should have shot him before he got stabbed".

[Residalz28]

Hideous behavior, the native american was deaf. And dumbass cops are always using excessive force.

[HideousBehavior]

"Put the knife down! Put the knife down!" Plain, concise, clear instructions in english. The whole incident could have been avoided had the individual complied with the officer's instructions.

[BigRob3850]

Is this idiot cop still working..?? of course he is...makes me sick they can murder people like that for no reason and then justify it to themselves..i hope this cop rots in hell for killing that poor guy..ever heard of a taser jackass..after all the little knife was closed..!!

[DarknessOfFlames]

tat cop will get shot by someone else one day. what goes around comes around...tat cop is a murder.

[Imaspeedfreak187]

Good for you officer one less piece of shit that walks the streets with a deadly weapon.

[Rafe903]

big tough pussy cop, hope i pray you suffer when you die fuckin coward

[CaptainHowdeey]

@Mattothee Yea now they become cops just so they can legally kill someone..