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January 3, 2009 in City
Man shot while in Nazi uniform
Seattle police chief defends officers
Seattle police Chief Gil Kerlikowske speaks Friday about the New Year’s Day shooting by Seattle police officers of Miles Murphy.
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SEATTLE – A man dressed in a vintage German military uniform who was fatally shot by Seattle police on New Year’s Day was fascinated with history and enjoyed re-enacting war events, friends say.
Miles Murphy, 22, who was identified by the University of Washington where he was studying, was shot several times at his Seattle apartment early Thursday after police said he pointed a rifle affixed with a bayonet at officers and refused orders to drop the weapon.
Police Chief Gil Kerlikowske said Friday that police had confiscated that weapon, a World War II Kar 98 German infantry rifle, in late 2006 for safekeeping but returned it a few months later at the request of the man’s father.
A witness had told some officers at the scene that Murphy had been firing blanks before the fatal shooting, but Kerlikowske said the officers had no way of knowing he didn’t have live rounds in his rifle.
Dianne Murphy told KING-TV that her son was a brilliant musician and student, who was on the UW dean’s list.
He was “a peaceful and loving young man,” she said. “Everyone that knew him loved him.”
Kerlikowske called the situation “truly sad” but stood by the officers’ actions. “Right now I don’t see any other choice that they had,” he said.
Friends and co-workers described Murphy as an eccentric but harmless history buff. He occasionally showed up to class and work wearing military and other period outfits, including a Union Civil War uniform.
Police were called to the neighborhood just north of the university early Thursday after neighbors complained that several men outside were firing rifle and shotgun rounds into the air.
Police traced the activity to a basement apartment of a three-story house.
Sgt. Sean Whitcomb said uniformed police officers took up positions at the top of the stairs leading to the apartment. A man emerged from the door dressed in a military uniform, holding a long rifle with a large bayonet attached.
The man pointed the rifle at the police officers, and refused several orders to drop the weapon. Two officers fired seven shots with AR-15 rifles, police Officer Jeff Kappel said.
The man was taken to Harborview Medical Center, where he died.
Police searching the house found a lot of alcohol, live ammunition and a large collection of German, Russian and Nazi regalia including photographs and uniforms, Whitcomb said.
But Murphy “wasn’t a Nazi,” said Hattie Taylor, a friend. “He was just fascinated with the past. … He liked to dress up and have fun.”
The two officers who fired at the man were placed on paid administrative leave, which is standard procedure.
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gideon_70 on January 03 at 3:53 p.m.
This sounds like a young man I would have been proud to know. I’ve seen videos of the police in situations like this, AR-15’s ready, screaming at the top of thier lungs and screaming over top of each other… It’s no wonder he was shot for not obeying instructions to drop an antique rifle.
Our country is a tiny bit smaller today. We have lost one of the most enjoyable and entusiastic people that we moved here from the police state of England to be. We have lost a lot today.