Christopher Monfort Found Guilty Of Murdering Seattle Police Officer

A man who shot and killed a Seattle police officer as he sat in a patrol car was found guilty of first-degree murder on Friday.

A King County jury rejected defendant Christopher Monfort’s insanity plea in the 2009 murder of officer Timothy Brenton.

The jury also found Monfort guilty of arson and the attempted murder of Brenton’s partner, Britt Sweeney. The jury will return June 16 to determine Monfort’s sentence. He could receive life in prison or the death penalty.

Monfort’s attorney said Monfort suffered from delusions and did not know right from wrong when he committed those acts. Prosecutors said he is sane and aware that his actions were wrong.

Brenton’s family members were emotional after the verdict was read. Brenton’s stepmother and brothers embraced outside the courtroom. Police Guild President Ron Smith says that regardless of Monfort’s ultimate sentence, he is gratified by today’s guilty verdict.

Police arrested Monfort in Tukwila, a week after the shooting. He was shot at his apartment complex and is now paralyzed from the waist down, confined to a wheelchair.

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