Murder of Timothy Brenton
Timothy Brenton | |
|---|---|
| Born | February 9, 1970 [1] |
| Died | October 31, 2009 (aged 39) |
Timothy Quinn Brenton (February 9, 1970 – c. October 31, 2009) was a Police Officer of nine years in Seattle, Washington who was murdered in the line of duty as he and his partner Officer Britt Sweeney sat in their police car. Timothy's death earned national publicity. [2]
Murder
On the night of October 31st, 2009 Timothy Brenton and his trainee Britt Sweeney who were working the Central District were both sitting in their police car following a traffic stop at 29th Avenue S. and E. Yesler Way. Sweeney was sitting in the driver's seat with Brenton in the passengers seat. They were debriefing the traffic stop they just performed when an unknown car pulled up alongside the police car and someone inside opened fire with a high powered firearm.[3] Sweeney ducked, and a bullet grazed her back. As she called for help she also managed to return fire. [2] [4] Seattle's Police Chief called this an assassination[4], as well as an act of domestic terrorism.[5]
Suspect
 | This section documents a current event. Information may change rapidly as the event progresses, and initial news reports may be unreliable. The latest updates to this section may not reflect the most current information. |
Seattle Police arrested a suspect in connection with the murder of Timothy Brenton. King County Prosecutors charged Christopher Monfort, 41, with aggravated first degree murder and attempted first-degree murder. Monfort is also charged with arson and attempted first-degree murder for a firebombing at a City of Seattle yard, in which King County Prosecutors says he was planning to kill police. He also faces attempted first-degree murder charges for attempting to shoot a detective who was pursuing him the day he was arrested outside of his home. [3] During the pursuit on foot police say Monfort produced a weapon and was shot in the stomach and head by police, paralyzing him from the waist down.[3] [6] Inside Monfort's apartment police allege that they found three high-powered rifles, a shotgun, homemade explosives, booby traps and a barricade of tires. Investigators also claim to have matched ballistics between a rifle found in Monfort's apartment and the bullets used at the crime scene. They also says DNA from Monfort matches DNA found on the flags left at the firebombing scene and the murder scene. [3]
Monfort has no criminal record in Washington, and in 2007 attended the University of Washington and studied law enforcement.[6]
References
- ^ Rose Egge (2009-11-06). "Memorial program tells of Brenton's life". centraldistrict.komonews.com. Retrieved 2009-11-13.
- ^ a b "No one is safe until officer's killer is caught, Seattle police say". CNN. Retrieved 2009-11-13.
- ^ a b c d "Police murder suspect paralyzed". King5 news. Retrieved 2009-11-13.
- ^ a b "Seattle police: Shooting death of officer an 'assassination'". King5 news. Retrieved 2009-11-13.
- ^ "Alleged Cop Killer Eyed in Car Bombings". AOL news. Retrieved 2009-11-13.
- ^ a b "Suspect in officer's shooting described as 'smart, mature'". KOMO news. Retrieved 2009-11-13.