Prosecutor weighs death penalty in police slaying

King County Prosecuting Attorney Dan Satterberg said Thursday he will conduct a careful review before deciding whether to seek the death penalty against Christopher John Monfort, but hinted he will seek Monfort's execution on charges of killing Seattle police Officer Timothy Brenton.

Satterberg said capital punishment in Washington is reserved for the "worst of the worst" offenders and crimes, then noted the charges against Monfort "fall squarely into that definition of the worst of the worst."

At a news briefing, Satterberg said Monfort waged a "one-man war" against the Seattle Police Department that began with the Oct. 22 firebombing of several police vehicles and ended with the shooting death of Brenton nine days later.

Satterberg said as part of the death-penalty decision he is required by law to consider any mitigating circumstances as he carries out a thorough examination of the case and Monfort's background

Monfort's attorneys have the option of submitting information on their client to the prosecutor's office, a procedure usually done in a detailed packet.

Monfort, 41, was charged Thursday with five criminal counts, including aggravated first-degree murder in the Oct. 31 slaying of Brenton, the lone count that carries a potential death penalty, and four other charges, including the attempted murder of police officers.

Brenton, 39, a field-training officer, was fatally shot while sitting in a police cruiser with rookie officer Britt Sweeney, who was wounded.

Monfort, a University of Washington criminal-justice graduate who has held various jobs, including truck driver and security guard, was charged with one count of attempted first-degree murder for allegedly trying to kill Sweeney.

He also was charged with two additional counts of attempted murder for allegedly trying to kill officers by firebombing four police vehicles Oct. 22 at a Seattle city maintenance yard, and for purportedly trying to fire a handgun at Seattle police Sgt Gary Nelson as officers confronted him last Friday at a Tukwila apartment complex.

Satterberg said one of the vehicles was first ignited to lure officers and first firefighters to the scene.

"The intent was clearly to kill those officers and first responders," Satterberg said.

No one was injured at the yard.

Monfort also was charged with one count of first-degree arson related to the firebombing.

The most serious charge — aggravated first-degree murder — is punishable by one of two sentences: life in prison without parole, or the death penalty. State law mandates that an aggravated murder charge can be sought only under specific circumstances — if the premeditated slaying happened during the commission of a rape, robbery, kidnapping or other high-level crime; if a suspect killed someone after escaping from prison; or if the victim was a police officer.

Under state law, the prosecutor's office has 30 days from the time of a suspect's arraignment to decide whether to seek the death penalty. Monfort's arraignment is set for Nov. 24. The 30-day deadline is often extended by agreement of the prosecution and defense.

Monfort targeted Seattle police "solely because of the badge they were wearing," the prosecutor said, adding, "he had a plan to wage a personal war against the Seattle Police Department."

Satterberg said Brenton's killing sent shock waves through the community and put police officers at risk.

"There was every reason to believe this person would strike again," he said.

Monfort was shot and wounded by Nelson and two other Seattle homicide detectives during the confrontation at the Tukwila complex. The apartment manager had reported seeing a car parked there that matched the description of a vehicle seen on the night Brenton was killed.

When the detectives tried to talk to Monfort, he pointed a gun at Nelson and pulled the trigger, charging papers said. The gun didn't fire because Monfort failed to move a bullet into the chamber, Satterberg said.

Monfort again pointed a handgun at the detectives and was shot, police said.

Monfort, who was wounded in the cheek and stomach, is in stable condition at Harborview Medical Center.

After he was shot, police searched Monfort and found a small book in his pocket that contained copies of the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution, according to court documents.

At the scene of the firebombings, a note listing grievances over police brutality was taped to the window of a nearby vehicle, police said. It referenced "police funerals" in the past tense, which police take to mean that whoever found it was to have also discovered the bodies of officers who were supposed to have died in the blasts.

A "military-style" knife and small American flag were also found at the scene. A bandanna with a flag printed on it was found near where Brenton and Sweeney were shot, police said.

Both were "calling cards," Satterberg said.

Police said earlier this week they recovered from Monfort's apartment a rifle that is "an identical ballistic match" to the .223-caliber rifle used to kill Brenton and wound Sweeney. Police say they also have matched DNA from Monfort to the bandanna found at the shooting scene and the flag left at the firebombing.

Also found in the apartment were bomb-making materials, improvised explosive devices, including one rigged to the stove, and two other rifles, authorities said.

Information from Seattle Times archives is included in this report.

Jennifer Sullivan: 206-464-8294 or jensullivan@seattletimes.com

Steve Miletich: 206-464-3302 or smiletich@seattletimes.com