On July 21, 1955, Seattle Police Officer James C. Brizendine (1922-1955) is shot and killed by a Wallingford home owner who mistakes him for a prowler.
At approximately 12:40 a.m. Officer Brizendine and his partner were investigating a report of a prowler in the 4200 Block of 4th Avenue NE. Brizendine had climbed over the back fence at the home of Renato Bellotti at 4233 4th Avenue NE. Bellotti was aware of the prowler report and had armed himself with a shotgun. Brizendine shined his flashlight into Bellotti's back window and Bellotti fired just as Brizendine shouted, "Don't shoot, I'm the police."
Brizendine died at Harborview Hospital.
Sources:
Michael D. Brasfield, "An Examination of the Historical and Biographical Material Pertaining to the Violent Deaths Involving Seattle Police Officers (1881-1980)," (Undergraduate thesis, University of Washington Library, 1980), 99.
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