The review board will try to determine whether the shooting by Officer Ian Birk was justified, not justified or accidental. Many in the Native community believe Birk over-reacted because Williams had trouble hearing and might not have heard Birk's commands.
Williams was also frequently seen carving in parks in the city. At the time of his death, he was carrying a knife and a piece of wood. Get the Story:Seattle police review board visits site where officer fatally shot woodcarver (The Seattle Times 10/4) Related Stories:
Justice Department monitors probe into shooting of Native man (9/21)
Mayor in Seattle calls officer shooting of Native man an 'injustice' (9/17)
Police department makes changes after First Nations man's death (9/16)
Editorial: Officer shooting of Native man threatens public's trust (9/10)
Police promise better outreach after fatal shooting of Native man (9/9)
Native leaders seek inquiry of police shooting of traditional carver (9/8)
Gyasi Ross: What are we doing about the shooting of Native man? (9/3)
First Nations in mourning after fatal shooting of traditional carver (9/3)
First Nations man shot and killed by officer was deaf in one ear (9/2)
First Nations man shot and killed by police officer in Washington (9/1)