In a chilling turn of events, Seattle police unveiled new bodycam footage on Friday evening capturing the tense moments leading up to the fatal shooting of a suspected child predator at a Tukwila hotel earlier this week.
Seattle Police Department (SPD) Chief Adrian Diaz disclosed that the 67-year-old suspect was under the impression of meeting two young girls, ages 7 and 11, upon his arrival at the DoubleTree Suites hotel around 3:13 p.m. on Wednesday.
Little did the suspect know that his intended meeting was a setup, as multiple SPD officers working undercover as part of the Washington State Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce were lying in wait for the suspect’s arrest.
Emphasizing the gravity of the case, Diaz highlighted that the task force focuses on investigating Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) cases, which encompass various offenses involving child sexual exploitation materials and service provider systems facilitating such crimes.
The newly revealed video captured the moment when officers responded to the suspect’s arrival, only to have him brandish a firearm immediately. A brief struggle ensued, culminating in the officers resorting to the use of lethal force, resulting in the suspect’s demise at the scene, as confirmed by law enforcement.
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During the altercation, a Seattle officer sustained a minor injury when grazed by a bullet on the leg, highlighting the dangers that law enforcement faces in confronting such harrowing situations.
Chief Diaz further highlighted a concerning trend, noting a 67% increase in internet crimes against children from 2022 to 2023, underscoring the urgent need to combat this pervasive threat.
Recalling the intense moments, hotel guest Eric Wehrmeister recounted his experience, stating, “I was running, I could see someone firing a gun. There was a rapid succession of gunfire. Good thing they were shooting away from my room. You know it could’ve been a lot worse.”
Wehrmeister, who had just checked out of the hotel before the incident unfolded on the fifth floor, painted a vivid picture of the chaos that transpired mere rooms away from his recent stay as the authorities swiftly intervened to thwart the imminent danger.
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