Damarius Butts

The Washington Post's Fatal Force database records Damarius Butts in a fatal on-duty police shooting on 2017-04-20 in Seattle, WA. Individual circumstances and legal outcome require case-specific review.

What happened

Damarius Butts was killed by Seattle police on April 20, 2017, following a reported armed robbery at a convenience business downtown. Officers pursued Butts and two companions, and Butts fled into the loading and receiving area of a building. The King County Prosecuting Attorney's official investigation memorandum states that Butts fired a handgun at pursuing officers in the confined loading area, wounding law-enforcement personnel. Officers returned fire and fatally wounded him. Emergency medics attempted resuscitation after officers secured the location. The shooting was investigated using statements from civilians and officers, dispatch communications, surveillance and police-car video, crime-scene evidence, autopsy findings and forensic testing. The county prosecutor's Public Integrity Team later documented its review and determination concerning possible charges. The narrative of who fired first is based on the investigation memorandum and not an independent firsthand account; the police confrontation followed a reported robbery, not an adjudicated conviction.

Investigation & findings

Individual legal and investigative outcome not yet reviewed.

What happened

Investigation & findings

Sources & records