Protesters demonstrate outside Seattle inquest

SEATTLE (AP) – Scores of protesters pounded drums and sang outside the King County Courthouse as a police inquest began into an officer's fatal shooting of a Native American wood carver.

Protesters were visible before Jan. 10's session began, during the noon hour and at the conclusion of the day's testimony.

The inquest jury was shown newly disclosed video of Officer Ian Birk pointing his semiautomatic pistol at John T. Williams just moments after Birk fired four shots that left Williams sprawled on the ground.

The Seattle Times reports some demonstrators wore headbands saying “4 seconds to death.” That's a reference to the time between when Birk ordered Williams to drop a knife and when Birk fired.

Birk saw Williams carrying the knife Aug. 30 and said he fired because Williams didn't respond to three commands to drop the knife.

The King County prosecutor will use the inquest findings to determine whether to charge the officer.

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Information from: The Seattle Times, http://www.seattletimes.com