The inquest into the death of JT Williams, a regular among the homeless men and women who live and spend time on Capitol Hill, ended Thursday as a jury provided answers to a set of questions that will help prosecutors determine if charges should be brought against Ian Birk, the Seattle police officer who shot and killed Williams on August 30th at the corner of Boren and Howell.
Of the key questions in the proceedings, four of the eight jurors said they believed Birk thought Williams posed a threat. Only one juror believed that Williams posed a legitimate threat while the other seven either believed he did not or said they were not sure. Here’s a brief round-up of the jury findings.
- Seattle Times: “The findings regarding the actual threat to Birk stand in contrast to previous King County inquest decisions, in which jurors have almost always upheld the actions of police officers involved in deadly shootings.”
- Seattle PI: “The inquest is not a criminal proceeding. The eight jurors were asked to find whether the shooting was justified, but their finding will have no immediate impact. It now goes for review by the King County Prosecutor.”
While the family says today’s decision affirms to them their brother was innocent, they now must wait, possibly until mid-February, for prosecutors to decide if Officer Birk will face criminal charges.
“I just got to let my brother keep journeying towards our Creator and not hold him back with tears,” said Linda Williams.
Ultimately, the Williams say they hope their brother’s death prompts changes in the way officers interact with Seattle’s homeless and with Native American and First Nation members.
- The Stranger: “The jury unanimously answered “yes” to almost every other question, but these particular answers are significant because they show that Officer Birk failed to convince a majority of the jurors that his version of events was accurate.”
