(updated with additional info)
A veteran Seattle Police Department Field Training Officer was killed in the line of duty in a shooting in the Leschi neighborhood Saturday night. A female officer, who recently graduated from the academy, was also wounded in the shooting.
Police say at about 10:15 p.m., Field Training Officer Timothy Brenton—who had been with the department since December 2000—and Officer Britt Sweeney were sitting in their patrol car at 29th and Yesler after performing a traffic stop, when another vehicle—a white, silver, or light blue compact or subcompact, police say—pulled up on their left.
Officer Brit Sweeney—who, police say, graduated from the police academy six or seven months ago—was sitting in the driver’s seat of the vehicle, going over traffic stop procedures when she noticed the car next to them. Police say Sweeney “sense[d] danger” and yelled out as at least one gunman in the other car opened fire through the passenger side window.
The scene of the shooting, one day later.
Bullets grazed Sweeney’s back, piercing her body armor. Brenton was struck in the head, killing him instantly, police say. Sweeney was able to get out of the car and return fire as the other vehicle sped away. “This is an assassination,” Assistant Chief Jim Pugel said at a press conference this afternoon. “Every resource is being used to bring this to a conclusion.” 
Police have not released any information about suspects. However, following the shooting, police were notified that a man who had been let out of jail Friday night had made threats against officers. Police contacted the man again Saturday night, following the shooting, and he was booked in to the King County Jail for obstruction at around 5:30 a.m. Court records indicate the man has previously been charged with for drugs, harassment, “attempting to elude” police, and assault on an officer in 2007. Jail records indicate the man was booked into the King County Jail on October 30th for “threats.” At this afternoon’s briefing, Assistant Chief Pugel downplayed the man’s arrest, but did not eliminate the possibility of his involvement in the incident.
Brenton, a West Seattle High School graduate, who transferred to SPD in 2000 from the La Conner police department, worked his entire career at
East Precinct, where spent time on the Anti-Crime Team. Brenton is survived by a wife and two children, 8 and 11.
A procession of patrol cars weaves through Capitol Hill
Officer Sweeney has been released from the hospital and is recovering.
The department has set up a tip line (206-233-5000) and Crimestoppers and the Seattle Police Officers Guild are offering a joint $21,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction.
