County Orders Inquest Into Giovonn Joseph-McDade Police Shooting

SEATTLE, WA - King County Executive Dow Constantine on Wednesday ordered an inquest into the shooting of Giovonn Joseph-McDade, who was killed by Kent police after a pursuit on June 24. During the inquest, a six-member jury will review the circumstances of McDade's death "so the public may have all the facts established in a court of law," according to King County.

A Kent police officer attempted to stop McDade, a student at Green River Community College, on June 24 for a traffic violation. According to police, McDade took off and led police on a chase that ended along a cul-de-sac. A Kent officer opened fire on McDade when the 20-year-old allegedly tried to ram the officer.

McDade's family have been critical of the shooting, and say they aren't being given access to information about McDade's death.

"We are heartbroken and disgusted by the police in how they handled this situation. All we know is death in under two minutes, two deadly PITs in a cul de sac, and shots fired into the right side of the car. All the information we've been getting is from the media," Sonia Joseph, McDade's mother, told The Stranger in July. Kent police reportedly used PIT - pursuit intervention technique - maneuvers twice during the pursuit.

County inquests are strictly informational and will not result in any sort of criminal or civil punishment.

Family members of people killed by police have also criticized the inquest process. Michael and Dianne Murphy's son, Miles, 22, was killed in 2009 by police after he allegedly refused orders to drop a historic rifle. Miles Murphy, a University of Washington student, had fired a blank from the gun. After going through the King County inquest process, the Murphys told KUOW that it was "a joke."

"The police and the city attorney asked [the police officer] all these questions and they had all the answers, they were very calm, just like this. Then our attorneys got a chance to ask questions. All of a sudden, ‘Oh, I can’t recall. I can’t recall. I can’t recall,’” Michael Murphy told KUOW's Amy Radil.

McDade was one of three people killed in June by local police. Tommy Le was killed June 13 by King County deputies because he would not drop a pen he was holding. Charleena Lyles was killed by Seattle police on June 18.

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