County executive orders inquest in July fatal shooting by Seattle police
WARNING: The video below contains graphic content of a shooting
SEATTLE -- Officials have ordered an inquest into the fatal shooting of a man this summer by Seattle police after the man allegedly rammed a patrol car on Interstate 5 and wielded a knife.
King County Executive Dow Constantine ordered the inquest Thursday into the death of 27-year-old Samuel Smith.
Fact-finding hearings in front of a jury are standard practice in the county to help determine the causes and circumstances of a death involving an officer while on duty.
Smith was killed July 17 when an officer reportedly approached him in his car and Smith got out and came at him with a large knife. This happened in the 6500 block of Ravenna Avenue NE
Police have said they believe Smith was driving a car earlier that morning that struck another officer's car on the freeway. The officer wasn't seriously injured and the suspect fled.
Video released by SPD: