iasnbirk_alexsilverman.jpg
Seattle Police Officer Ian Birk in the courtroom. (KIRO Radio/Alex Silverman)

Jury answers questions in police shooting inquest

BY Tim Haeck  on January 20, 2011 @ 12:37 pm (Updated: 1:30 pm - 3/28/11 )

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KIRO Radio staff

An inquest jury is split on whether a homeless woodcarver was a threat to a Seattle Police officer before he shot and killed him in August.

Jurors were asked to answer 19 questions after hearing testimony for nearly two weeks.

One juror answered "yes" to the question, "Did John T. Williams have sufficient time to put the knife down after Officer Birk's order?" Four jurors said "no" and three said "unknown."

See all the questions and answers

Prosecutors will use the jury's findings to help decide whether to file charges against Officer Birk. They expect to finish the review in mid-February.

Birk told the jury last week that he felt threatened, and was "left with no reasonable alternative but to fire" when he shot and killed 50-year-old John T. Williams.

The jury has been deliberating since Jan. 10 about what happened between the time when Officer Ian Birk yelled at Williams and when he fired his gun at a Seattle intersection.

Birk said he knew there wasn't something quite right with Williams when he first spotted him walking near the intersection of Boren Avenue and Howell Street.

"The way that he was carrying himself, his posture, the gait of his walk was consistent with people I observe suffering from some sort of impairment," Birk said.

He also said he clearly saw Williams with a knife in the open position, but the lead investigator on the case told the jury earlier Tuesday that the knife was closed when it was found at the scene.

Williams' brother, Rick, also testified that their father taught John to always close his knife when someone was addressing him.

"He would push the lock blade and use the board to shut the knife," Williams said.

Tim Haeck, KIRO Radio Reporter
Tim Haeck is a news reporter with KIRO Radio. While Tim is one of our go-to, no-nonsense reporters, he also has a sensationally dry sense of humor and it will surprise some to learn he is a weekend warrior.
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Comments (37)


  • Add A Comment

  • JMGilday wrote...
    WOW, talk about your mixed feelings.
    January 20, 2011 12:12 pm
    I can't help but feel sorry for the situation this cop finds himself in, but it IS a situation that is entirely of his own making. These guys are trained to react properly, to see the WHOLE picture before acting. It's clear Officer Birk did not. And that lack of training or the failure to put that training into use cost Mr. Williams his life. Officer Birk needs to do some time, The City of Seattle needs to pay some money (preferably into the John T. Williams Detox Center) and training needs to be ratcheted up .
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • lofat wrote...
    B. S.
    January 20, 2011 12:20 pm
    I don't buy that the jury was split. We are being lied to again.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • OneMoreVoice wrote...
    There is no doubt in my mind that this was a unjustified shooting.
    January 20, 2011 12:20 pm
    Birk needs to be charged with murder for his reckless behavior.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Dark Jedi wrote...
    On a side note
    January 20, 2011 12:24 pm
    It's too bad the city spend money on "bike boxes" painted on the pavement, rather than spending it on police equipment like rain gear and tazers.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • jpetro wrote...
    You think
    January 20, 2011 12:24 pm
    it is a lie? What are you some conspiracy theory nut? Truth hurts I guess. P.s., This does not mean Birk is in the clear.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • len98531 wrote...
    not a lie lofat
    January 20, 2011 12:46 pm
    just a bunch of racists on the jury. Dont worry, the liberal sludge will ooze there opinion anytime, now.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • lofat wrote...
    Chill Dude
    January 20, 2011 1:03 pm
    Hey sp5937 you sound like a Bolshevik. This is the comment section remember ?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • KbearL wrote...
    just another...
    January 20, 2011 1:04 pm
    Trigger happy cop... if he ever even needed a reason to shoot Mr. Williams (which he obviously did not), shoot him in the knee or leg. Not 5 times in the back shooting to kill. This cop has a SERIOUS problem and not only need to be convicted of murder but needs to be locked up for a very long time. Seattle police department is corrupt this is one of the multiple investigations going on at this time.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • therealajmccarrell wrote...
    So, a bunch of cops let another cop off for murder?
    January 20, 2011 1:14 pm
    This is news? Are they going to report that the sun will rise tomorrow?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Ted Jones wrote...
    Birk is in the wrong
    January 20, 2011 1:16 pm
    Video doesn't lie. He gives this guy no chance and based off the video, I seriously doubt his life was in danger. Birk had his gun pulled out, as if he knew he was going to use it, before he even hollered at Williams.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }