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Published on January 22, 2025
Trial Underway for Man Accused of Second-Degree Murder in Seattle Community Activist's Road Rage DeathSource: Unsplash/Tingey Injury Law Firm

The trial of Patrick Cooney, the man accused of killing Seattle community activist Elijah Lewis during a road rage incident on April 1, 2023, has commenced, with allegations of second-degree murder and first-degree assault being presented to the court, as detailed by KING5 News. Cooney's actions, which took place on Capitol Hill, have reverberated through the community. As stated by the news outlet, the case has brought significant attention to the impact of gun violence and road rage.

According to the Seattle Times, the deadly exchange escalated after Lewis overtook Cooney's scooter and attempted to make a right turn, both men exchanged heated words Cooney allegedly fired at Lewis' Toyota Camry, subsequently leading to Lewis crashing into a parked Prius - an event that the prosecution highlighted, noting that even as Lewis' vehicle left the area, "Cooney can still be seen walking in the direction of the vehicle with the gun in his hand."

The trial has taken on an additional layer of personal tragedy, with testimony coming from the victim's sister, Quincy Dunham, who is also the mother of the 9-year-old boy injured in the shooting, per KOMO News. Dunham, as the first witness, shared her account of the events that not only led to her brother's death but also left her son wounded, painting a harrowing picture of the road rage fallout.

The trial is set to unfurl further details of the April confrontation, and Cooney's defense strategy leans towards self-defense despite the charges levied against him, statements from Dunham and evidence from the scene aim to contradict this claim - particularly the security video referenced by prosecutors and witness accounts that suggest a clear trajectory of aggression on Cooney's part after the initial altercation, according to both Seattle Times and KOMO News.