Seattle Police release body camera footage of accused pedophile shot dead during sting operation. Photo courtesy of Seattle Police Department
April 21 (UPI) — Seattle police have released video of an officer-involved shooting that occurred during a sting operation to arrest a 67-year-old man who arranged to meet two minor females at an area hotel.
The suspect, a 67-year-old man, arrived at a DoubleTree Suites hotel in Tukwila at around 3:15 p.m. on Wednesday thinking he was meeting two girls, ages 7 and 11, the Seattle Police Department said.
Police bodycam footage showed the man arriving at the hotel wearing a jacket and carrying a bag. When the suspect knocked on the door, he was confronted by Seattle police officers waiting to arrest him.
As police opened the door, the suspect pulled a gun and one officer tried to wrest the weapon away from the suspect, video shows.
The gun went off during the struggle, and hit one of the officers’ legs, before another officer shot the suspect twice, incapacitating him.
Three officers fired more than a dozen rounds into the man as he lay on the ground. He was later pronounced dead at the scene.
Another hotel guest told KING 5 that he barricaded himself in the hotel kitchen when he heard the gunfire.
“I heard a loud pop, I assumed it might have been maintenance. Seconds later, another pop and after that, a rapid succession of gunfire,” Erik Wehrmeister said.
“I turned around and saw someone shooting downward into the floor, and that’s when I made a run for the kitchen into the corridor and barricaded in one of the offices.”
There were no additional injuries reported.
Internet crimes against children increased 67% from 2022 to 2023, according to Seattle Police Department Chief Adrian Diaz.
“For our officers, these situations are dangerous, unpredictable, and can escalate rapidly,” he said.
The officers in the sting operation were assigned to the Washington State Internet Crimes Against Children unit.
