A report from the King County coroner offers more perspective on an officer-involved shooting in Kent last week.
According to the report, the deceased has been identified as 33-year-old Christian Moshosky.
The riot police ruled that Moshosky’s death was a murder.
Although this finding is a medical and not a legal determination, it contradicts the original information provided by Kent Police.
During an interview hours after the shooting, Kent Police Chief Rafael Padilla said, “There are indications that the cause of death may have been a self-inflicted gunshot wound.”
Padilla said the information was “initial,” referring to the investigation by the Valley Independent Investigation team, which the Port of Seattle police are set to lead.
On Labor Day, no one from the Coroner’s Office was available to explain why the Office ruled Moshosky’s death a homicide.
Kent police did not respond to phone calls or emails seeking comment Monday. The Port of Seattle said it could not release any information at this time.
Four bullet holes are still visible in the top floor of the Madison Plaza apartment building on the edge of downtown Kent.
Padilla said officers could still hear gunfire when they responded to a report of at least six shots fired near the building on Wednesday, Aug. 28.
The initial press release from Kent police stated that officers believed they were being shot at and so returned fire at the top of the apartment building.
“We believe he fired in the direction of the shooting subject,” Padilla said.
KIRO 7 filed a request for the release of the bodycam from the crime scene, but this request was denied due to the ongoing investigation.
On the day of the shooting, Padilla spoke generally about police protocols when officers use deadly force.
“There are other things to consider… like the background, other people in the frame, making sure we don’t fire bullets where we don’t want them,” he said.
