Steve Miletich and Jennifer Sullivan:
Seattle Police Chief John Diaz and a department review board have reached a preliminary finding that an officer's fatal shooting of a homeless woodcarver on Aug. 30 was not justified, according to sources familiar with the case. Diaz and the Firearms Review Board will make a final determination after a court inquest into the shooting is completed.After reaching the preliminary finding that the shooting was not justified, the officer, Ian Birk, was ordered by Deputy Chief Clark Kimerer, who oversees the review board, to surrender his gun and badge, according to the sources.[...]
Williams was struck by four bullets on the right side of his body, indicating he was not facing the officer at the time the shots were fired, the attorney representing the Williams family said last week.
SOURCE CONFIRMS TO KOMO: Officer involved in shooting of woodcarver John T. Williams was ordered to surrender his badge. Details to come.
