A King County jury on Friday found Christopher Monfort guilty of aggravated first-degree murder for the 2009 shooting death of Seattle police officer Timothy Brenton.
The jury of six men and six women now will move to the penalty phase of the case. After additional testimony set to begin on June 16, they will decide if Monfort should face the death penalty or life in prison.
The state currently has a moratorium on the death penalty. Governor Jay Inslee has said no executions will happen in Washington State while he is in office.
In a statement released after the verdict, Mayor Ed Murray wrote, “The verdict cannot undo the nightmare of losing a father, husband, brother and brave public servant who meant so much to so many. I hope that as this trial enters the penalty phase, Officer Brenton’s loved ones are able to continue the healing process.”
On the night of Halloween in 2009 Monfort drove up to Brenton’s parked police car in Seattle’s Leschi neighborhood. He shot Brenton in the head, killing him and wounded his partner Britt Kelly.
A bullet grazed Kelly’s head and for that, the jury says Monfort is guilty of first degree attempted murder. Nine days before the shooting, Monfort set police cars on fire in a maintenance yard.
After Brenton’s murder Monfort eluded police for about a week. Police eventually located him in his Tukwila apartment, which was full of weapons and explosives.
The day Monfort was arrested he was shot by police, which left him paralyzed him from the waist down.
Monfort pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. Defense lawyers argued Monfort thought that by killing a few police officers it would put an end to police brutality. They say Monfort is delusional.
Prosecutors told jurors Monfort knew his actions were wrong and stalked his victims like a hunter.
