On Monday, King County Executive Dow Constantine ordered an inquest into the fatal shooting of D’Angelo Davis by Tukwila police on December 7, 2013.
Police surrounded the Cash and Carry wholesale food store on Andover Park East after receiving a report of an armed robbery in progress. Police say gunfire was exchanged when an armed man emerged, and Davis was killed.
King County Prosecutor Dan Satterberg recommended the inquest after his office reviewed materials from the Federal Way Police Department, which conducted the investigation.
Inquests are fact-finding hearings conducted before a six-member jury. Under a standing Executive Order, inquests are convened to determine the causes and circumstances of any death involving a member of any law enforcement agency within King County while in the performance of his or her duties.
According to the County Executive’s Office, inquests provide transparency into law enforcement actions so the public may have all the facts established in a court of law. The ordering of an inquest should carry no other implication. Inquest jurors answer a series of interrogatories to determine the significant factual issues involved in the case, and it is not their purpose to determine whether any person or agency is civilly or criminally liable.
The order signed by the Executive requests King County District Court Presiding Judge Corinna Harn to assign a judge to set a date and conduct the inquest.
