Seattle police shooting inquest draws demonstrators

Published 1:13 pm Monday, January 10, 2011

SEATTLE — About a dozen American Indians and other demonstrators pounded drums and sang outside the King County Courthouse Monday before the start the inquest into the police shooting of a Native American wood carver.

The Seattle Times reports some wore headbands saying “4 seconds to death.” That’s a reference to the time between when Officer Ian Birk ordered John T. Williams to drop a knife and when Birk fired the fatal shots.

Birk saw Williams carrying the knife Aug. 30 and said he fired because Williams didn’t respond to three commands to drop the knife. Witnesses say Williams did not appear to be a threat.

The King County prosecutor will use the inquest findings to determine whether to charge the officer.