Seattle Cop Shot Dead In Unprovoked Attack

Few clues have emerged at this point from a drive-by shooting that killed a Seattle police officer, an eight-year veteran, and left a trainee injured on Halloween night.

Investigators on Sunday fielded tips, interviewed potential witnesses and searched through video tapes for evidence that would lead them to the assailant or assailants. They have yet to identify a suspect or the suspect's vehicle, nor have they been able to determine what kind of weapon was used.

The deceased was field training officer Timothy Brenton, age thirty-nine. Rookie officer Britt Sweeney, age thirty-three, suffered only a minor injury. The two were discussing a routine traffic stop while parked in the mostly residential Central District, east of downtown Seattle, when their police cruiser was suddenly struck several times by gunfire shortly after ten o'clock at night.

Assistant Police Chief Jim Pugel said, "Brenton didn't suffer, he died instantly. Sweeney ducked, which made the bullet graze her back. She then called for help and returned fire," Pugel said.

"This is an assassination, and every resource is being used to bring it to a conclusion," Pugel continued.

Brenton was the city's first officer to be killed in the line of duty since 2006, and Saturday's shooting was the first intentional homicide of an officer since 1994.

It was said there had been no threats against Brenton and no indication that assailants were looking for him.

Sweeney was taken to the hospital, but was then later released and is at home. She joined the force about six months ago and had graduated from the academy just a few weeks ago.

Brenton had been with the department for eight years. His immediate family consists of a wife and two children, ages eleven and eight. His father and uncle are both retired Seattle police officers.

"Everybody loved him," the officer's uncle, Jon Brenton of Kingston, Washington, told The Seattle Times. "I don't think there was any reason anybody would come after him."

"Our community is in shock at this brutal and senseless crime," Seattle Mayor Greg NickelsGreg Nickels said. "The killing of someone who protects our public safety is universally condemned, and our city is united in rejecting this violence and supporting the men and women in uniform. "

In August 2006, rookie officer Joselito Barber was killed when a woman drove her sport utility vehicle through a red light and broadsided his patrol car.

In 1994, officer Antonio Terry was shot and killed after stopping behind a disabled vehicle, according to the Seattle Police Officers' Guild.

This is very tragic, I'm not contesting that, but why is it labeled an assassination? How important do you have to be before a murder is labeled an assassination? And what about the statement by the Mayor? Murder is always universally condemned and rejected, not just when it's someone who protects the community. Again, I just want to say that I'm not trying to diminish what happened, it just makes me curious.