A Seattle family is publicly turning up the heat on investigators after a police shooting that was caught on camera and shared with local reporters this week. Relatives say they are certain more recordings exist than what they have seen, and they are pushing for the release of body‑worn camera, patrol‑car, and any other video that could clarify how the encounter unfolded. Their demand for transparency lands in a city where questions about how quickly evidence from officer‑involved incidents sees daylight have not exactly gone away.
The family showed reporters part of a bystander video and used that clip to press their case, saying investigators should make all relevant footage and a clear timeline public. According to local station KIRO 7, the segment featuring the raw video includes both the family’s remarks and the portion of the confrontation they say was captured on a cellphone, while investigators continue their review in the background.
What the family is asking for
Relatives are calling on officials to release any body‑camera recordings, dash‑cam footage and nearby surveillance clips so the public can see what led up to the police use of force. Seattle Police Department policy on officer‑involved shootings directs the department to “release the names of any officers who discharged a firearm, absent exigent circumstances,” and to provide video that offers a general overview of what happened within roughly 72 hours, as long as doing so does not compromise an active investigation, according to the department’s online policy description (SPD Blotter).
How investigations proceed in Washington
Under Washington law, any use of deadly force by police must be reviewed by an independent investigative team that operates separately from the agency whose officers were involved. State rules laid out in RCW 10.114 and in WAC 139‑12 require that team to conduct a criminal‑style investigation and then send its findings to prosecutors, who decide whether to file charges. In King County, the Public Integrity Team within the prosecutor’s office is one of the units that can take on officer‑involved cases in the region (King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office).
Why transparency matters
Advocates argue that getting footage out quickly helps build public trust and lets community members weigh for themselves whether the force used appears justified. Prosecutors and investigators respond that if video is released too early, it can taint witness interviews and jeopardize the case. National investigative work has found that many critical‑incident recordings stay under wraps for long stretches, a pattern that has helped fuel families’ calls for clearer and more consistent rules about when police video should be made public (ProPublica).
What happens next
Relatives say they plan to keep pressing city and county officials for answers while investigators finish their review, and they are urging anyone who recorded the incident to hang on to that footage. Seattle police routinely ask people who capture violent events on video to preserve the material and contact detectives. The department lists its Violent Crimes Tip Line as 206‑233‑5000 (KIRO 7).
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