A police officer in Kent, Washington is currently on trial for the shooting death of a man outside a convenience store in 2019. The officer, Jeff Nelson, is facing charges of second-degree murder and first-degree assault for the incident that resulted in the death of 26-year-old Jesse Sarey.
According to prosecutors, Nelson ignored his training and used unnecessary deadly force when he shot Sarey twice while attempting to arrest him for disorderly conduct. This was the third fatal shooting by Nelson in the past eight years.
Nelson's attorney claimed that the officer mistakenly believed Sarey had grabbed a folding knife from him, but it was later revealed that the knife had fallen to the ground and was picked up by a witness. The prosecution argued that Nelson failed to follow proper de-escalation procedures and used excessive force in his interaction with Sarey.
The trial, taking place at the King County Superior Court, has shed light on Nelson's previous use of deadly force in other incidents. The city of Auburn has paid millions of dollars to settle civil rights claims related to Nelson's actions as a police officer.
Despite Nelson's defense that he felt threatened by Sarey's actions, prosecutors maintain that the officer's use of force was unwarranted and unjustified. The trial is expected to last several weeks as both sides present their arguments and evidence to the court.
This case comes in the wake of increased scrutiny on police use of force, with Washington state changing its legal standards to make it easier to charge officers for misconduct. The outcome of this trial will have significant implications for police accountability and public trust in law enforcement.
