By Sara Jean Green
The Seattle Times
SEATTLE — Seattle police released surveillance-camera footage today showing the struggle between an armed 23-year-old man and a King County sheriff’s deputy at Sound Transit’s Sodo Station last week, moments before the deputy fatally shot the man.
Seattle police are investigating the shooting at the request of the Sheriff’s Office.
The 23-year-old who was shot was identified by the King County Medical Examiner’s Office as Oscar Perez-Giron.
The July 1 incident began after Giron and two companions were escorted off a train because Giron couldn’t show proof he paid his fare and refused to provide identification.
The video shows (starting at about the 3:40 mark) Giron struggling with a deputy and a fare-enforcement officer for several seconds. From the camera angle, it can be difficult to spot, but police say Giron pulls a gun and points it at the deputy’s head. The deputy continues to struggle with Giron before opening fire and fatally wounding him.
Moments later, a second man, Mario Parra — who is also identified as Mario Parra Cetina — can be seen coming toward the deputy from behind before the deputy levels his gun at him. The video ends there.
Police say they later found a stolen gun and ammunition in Parra’s backpack.
King County prosecutors charged Parra last week with third-degree assault and carrying a concealed pistol, court records show. He remains in the King County Jail in lieu of $100,000 bail. Though it was initially reported that Parra was a felon who was barred from possessing a gun, prosecutors said in charging papers that his prior convictions were for misdemeanor crimes.
“The defendant illegally possessed the firearm when he had it concealed on his person on the Sound Transit train, on the platform and when he assaulted the officer,” charging papers say.
Last week, the deputy was identified as Deputy Malcolm Elliott, 39, by sheriff’s spokeswoman, Sgt. DB Gates.
Elliott joined the sheriff’s office in February 2002 and transferred to the Sound Transit police division in early 2009, Gates said.
Copyright 2014 The Seattle Times