Slain Washington Officer Identified, Town Mourns, Suspect in Jail

Officer Jonathan Shoop, 32, started his law enforcement career with the Bothell Police Department on June 3, 2019. Before joining the Bothell PD, he served in the Coast Guard.

Authorities in Washington state have identified a suburban Seattle officer who was killed after a short vehicle pursuit Monday night.

Officer Jonathan Shoop, 32, started his law enforcement career with the Bothell Police Department on June 3, 2019. Before joining the Bothell PD, he served in the Coast Guard.

Shoop was killed around 9:40 p.m. Monday night when a suspect reportedly opened fire on him and another Bothell officer after a short vehicle pursuit that ended with a crash. The pursuit was triggered by an attempted traffic stop on a Pontiac G5.

The Snohomish County Multiple Agency Response Team (SMART) released the following information Tuesday: "According to video footage and witnesses, a male exited the Pontiac and walked towards the police SUV while firing a handgun at it. The male then ran from the scene as the police SUV continued forward, glanced off the Pontiac and rolled several hundred yards before coming to a stop against a tree." 

Aaron Snell, spokesperson for SMART, said there was “an exchange of gunfire” after the crash, which nearby residents captured on cell phone video. The SMART report said it appears the 2nd officer returned fire from Shoop's passenger seat. 

Responding officers found Shoop dead at the scene, and the second officer wounded. The second officer was taken to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. He has since been released. 

A suspect was captured inside Bothell around 3:20 a.m. Police say the suspect was found on the roof of a business about 1,000 feet from where the shooting happened, after he became stuck between two buildings.

Authorities have identified the suspect as Henry Eugene Washington. He is in the King County Jail.

KIRO TV reports that Washington's mother posted a message on Facebook saying that she was shocked that her son had killed an officer.

Facebook image from page of woman who says she is mother of accused murderer Henry Eugene Washington. (Photo: Facebook)Facebook image from page of woman who says she is mother of accused murderer Henry Eugene Washington. (Photo: Facebook)

A Facebook page that appears to belong to suspect Henry Washington shows a black male holding weapons and using drugs. There is also a photo of that man with quantities of what appear to be illegal drugs. The opening photo on the page is a circular frame of a photo of a man who could be Washington, holding a handgun. The frame reads: "Black Lives Matter" and features the militant close fist.

Image from Facebook page that appears to belong to Henry Eugene Washington, who is accused of killing Officer Jonathan Shoop. (Photo: Facebook)Image from Facebook page that appears to belong to Henry Eugene Washington, who is accused of killing Officer Jonathan Shoop. (Photo: Facebook) 

Washington reportedly lives in Phoenix, and it has not been revealed why he was in the Seattle area.

In Bothell, the public has responded to the murder of Officer Shoop with an outpouring of support for the department. A memorial continues to grow for Shoop outside Bothell City Hall, where his patrol car is parked, King 5 reports.

 

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