SEATTLE, WA – The trial of a suburban Seattle police officer accused of murder in the death of a 26-year-old man outside a convenience store in 2019 began on Monday. This marks the third fatal shooting involving the officer in the past eight years. Officer Jeff Nelson of the Auburn Police Department fatally shot Jesse Sarey while attempting to arrest him for disorderly conduct during a brief 67-second encounter.
Prosecutors presented surveillance video from nearby businesses showing Nelson wrestling with Sarey, striking him in the head multiple times, and shooting him twice. Despite being wounded and on the ground, Nelson allegedly cleared a jammed round from his gun, then shot Sarey again, resulting in his death. The trial follows a change in Washington state law in 2018, making it easier to charge police officers by requiring prosecutors to prove that the use of force was unreasonable or unnecessary.
Nelson, an Iraq war veteran who joined the police force in 2008, maintains that he believed Sarey was armed with a knife and posed a threat before firing the fatal shots. The city of Auburn has paid millions of dollars to settle civil rights claims related to Nelson’s actions as an officer.
The trial, taking place in King County Superior Court, is expected to last several weeks. The judge has ruled that jurors will not hear about Nelson’s previous use of deadly force or Sarey’s history of drug use. This case is one of several incidents involving Nelson, including the shooting death of another man, Isaiah Obet, in 2017.
According to Obet’s family’s attorneys, he did not pose a threat at the time he was shot by Nelson. Despite facing criticism and legal challenges, the Auburn Police Department has defended Nelson’s actions in each incident. The Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission is considering disciplinary action against Nelson, citing a pattern of “reckless disregard for the rights of others.”
The outcome of this trial will have significant implications not only for the officer but also for the ongoing debate surrounding police use of force and accountability. As the proceedings unfold, the community awaits justice and closure for the victims and their families impacted by these tragic events.