Following an intense legal battle, Patrick Cooney has been convicted of second-degree murder and first-degree assault in connection with the 2023 road rage incident that left Seattle activist Elijah Lewis dead and his nephew injured, as reported by FOX 13 Seattle. The verdict, delivered by a jury on Wednesday, concludes a case that has gripped the community, raising issues surrounding gun violence and road safety.
The altercation began when Lewis, in the process of picking up his nephew for a birthday outing, merged in front of Cooney, who was riding an electric scooter the incident occurred on East Pine Street around 5 p.m., which camera footage from a local business confirmed, according to MyNorthwest. Lewis's nephew reportedly heard Cooney shout something and Lewis retorted with a directive to "shut up," before the situation rapidly escalated, culminating in Cooney abandoning his scooter and discharging his firearm several times as Lewis's car drove away.
Witnesses to the event described a harrowing scene with Cooney, after attempting to physically confront the vehicle, dropping his electric scooter and producing a gun, firing multiple shots at the car as it retreated along Broadway, this account consistent with the court documents obtained by KING 5. Despite arguments by Cooney's defense that his actions were in self-defense after nearly being hit by Lewis's car, the jury ultimately convicted him on the charges presented.
