The Seattle Police Department (SPD) released video from a police cruiser dashcam of the fatal police shooting of Che Taylor, a 46-year old African American male. The incident took place Sunday afternoon in North Seattle.
According to reports, Officers from the North Precinct were investigating a suspicious car on the 2100 block of NE 85th St. around 3:45 p.m. when officers spotted Taylor, who police characterized as “a known felon who was clearly armed.”
At approximately 4:15, officers called for additional units to assist in taking the Taylor into custody. As Taylor stood at the passenger door of a white Ford Taurus, a marked patrol vehicle with emergency lights on pulled up facing the Taurus.
According to SPD, an arrest team then approached the vehicle to take Taylor into custody. Officers ordered Taylor to show his hands and get on the ground. Officials claim that Taylor did not follow the officers’ commands, and instead leaned into the Taurus.
The officers claim that Taylor reached for his handgun, leading officer to fire.
Officers detained the other two people in the car and called for medics. Police performed CPR on Taylor at the scene until medics arrived. He later died at Harborview Medical Center.
According to SPD, detectives are still serving warrants as part of the investigation, but have recovered Taylor’s firearm. When Taylor arrived at Harborview Medical Center, SPD claims that he was carrying approximately 6 ounces of suspected crack cocaine and black tar heroin.
Officers also booked one of the other people in the vehicle into the King County Jail for possession of a significant quantity of suspected heroin.
Per department policy, the officers involved in the shooting will be placed on paid administrative leave during the investigation.
