Murder of Timothy Brenton: Difference between revisions

* [[.223 Remington|.223-caliber]] [[Kel-Tec SU-16]] [[semi-automatic rifle]]

The '''murder of Timothy Brenton''' occurred on October 31, 2009, in the [[Central District, Seattle|Central District]] of [[Seattle]], [[Washington (U.S. state)|Washington]], [[United States]]. '''Timothy Quinn Brenton''' (February 9, 1970 &ndash; October 31, 2009),<ref name=autogenerated2>[https://spdblotter.seattle.gov/2009/11/05/officer-brentons-biography/ Officer Brenton’s biography<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> an [[police officer|officer]] with the [[Seattle Police Department]] (SPD), was seated in a parked [[police car|patrol car]] with another officer discussing a traffic stop when a gunman stopped his vehicle alongside the patrol car, opened fire on both officers, and fled the scene. Brenton died at the scene and his partner sustained minor injuries.<ref name="CNN">{{cite news | title = No one is safe until officer's killer is caught, Seattle police say | url = http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/11/04/washington.cop.killed/index.html | agency = CNN | accessdate = 2009-11-13 | date=November 4, 2009}}</ref> One week later, as a public memorial service for Brenton was being held at [[KeyArena]], the gunman was apprehended and seriously wounded and apprehended after being shot by police officers in [[Tukwila, Washington|Tukwila]].

The shooting is believed to have been a targeted attack against police officers in general, not against either officer individually. The suspect arrested in connection with the murder, '''Christopher Monfort''', was also charged in connection with the October 22, 2009, firebombing of Seattle police vehicles at a city maintenance facility.<ref name="AOL" /> No clear motive was established, but he had left behind fliers discussing [[police brutality]], and had expressed opinions against the wars in [[Iraq War|Iraq]] and [[War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)|Afghanistan]]. He was accused by authorities of being a [[domestic terrorism|terrorist]] who waged a "one -man war" against the police by authorities.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://komonews.com/archive/monfort-charged-in-one-man-war-against-seattle-police-force|title=Monfort charged in 'one-man war' against Seattle police force |author=KOMO Staff|date=Nov 12, 2009|accessdate=July 21, 2016}}</ref>

*Field Training Officer Timothy Brenton, 39, of [[Marysville, Washington|Marysville]], Servedwho had served nine years with the SPD,. Brenton, he Previouslypreviously workedserved as a Policepolice Officerofficer for the bothin [[La Conner]], Police Department and [[HoquiamWashington]] Police Department, and was a veteran of the [[United States Army]] and the [[Gulf War]], was killed in the attack. He graduated from [[West Seattle High School]] and [[Spokane Community College]] and had two children.<ref name=autogenerated2 />

*Trainee Officer Britt Sweeney, 33, of [[Seattle]], having one month with the SPD, was injured in the attack.

Police said that upon entering Monfort's apartment, they found three rifles (a [[7mm Remington Magnum|7mm]] [[Winchester Model 70]] bolt-action rifle, an [[FN Model 1949]] semi-automatic rifle and a [[7.62x39mm]] [[SKS|Inter Ordnance of America M59/66]] semi-automatic rifle w/ fixed [[bayonet]]), a [[Mossberg 590]] [[Gauge (firearms)|12-gauge]] shotgun, a [[.45 ACP|.45-caliber]] [[Auto-Ordnance Company|Auto-Ordnance]] [[M1911|1911]] pistol,<ref>{{cite news | title = Court documents reveal more about note, evidence on Monfort | url = https://blog.seattlepi.com/seattle911/2009/11/24/court-documents-reveal-more-about-note-evidence-on-monfort/amp/ | agency = Seattle PI | accessdate = November 24, 2009 | date=November 24, 2009}}</ref> homemade explosives, booby traps and a barricade of tires. Investigators also found to have matched ballistics between a rifle found in Monfort's apartment and the bullets used in the attack on Brenton and Sweeney. They also found evidence connecting Monfort with the firebombing of multiple police vehicles at a Seattle city maintenance facility on October 22, 2009, in which prosecutors claim he was planning to kill police officers. Police also claim to have a DNA match for Monfort found on the flags left at the firebombing scene and the murder scene.<ref name="King5-2"/>

On 5th June 5, 2015, Monfort was convicted of murder, two counts of attempted murder, and one count of arson by a King County Juryjury.<ref>{{cite news | title = Seattle cop killer convicted in 2009 deadly anti-police spree | url = http://www.seattlepi.com/local/article/Jury-returns-verdict-in-murder-of-Seattle-police-6304432.php | agency = SeattlePI | accessdate = 2015-06-14 | author = Levi Pulkkinen }}</ref> He was sentenced to [[Life imprisonment|life in prison]].<ref>{{cite web | url = http://spdblotter.seattle.gov/2015/07/23/mayor-ed-murray-chief-kathleen-otoole-respond-to-jury-sentence-in-murder-of-seattle-officer/ | title = Mayor Ed Murray, Chief Kathleen O'Toole Respond to Jury Sentence In Murder of Seattle Officer | agency = Seattle Police Department | publisher = SPD Blotter | author = Public Affairs | date = July 23, 2015}}</ref> He died in prison of an [[amitriptyline]] overdose on January 18, 2017, at the age of 48.<ref>[http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/crime/christopher-monfort-killer-of-seattle-police-officer-dies-in-prison/ Christopher Monfort, killer of Seattle police officer, found dead in prison cell | The Seattle Times<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref>[http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/crime/christopher-monfort-killer-of-seattle-police-officer-died-of-drug-overdose/ Seattle cop killer Christopher Monfort died of drug overdose]</ref>

[[Category:2009 in Washington (state)Seattle]]

[[Category:October 2009 eventscrimes in the United States]]