SEATTLE — The primary suspect in a Seattle homicide investigation was mistakenly released from jail in another state, despite being held on a felony warrant, a California law enforcement agency announced Monday.
The suspect, 20-year-old Isaiah Jamon Andrews, was arrested in California just three days after he was alleged to have shot and killed a man in Seattle’s Northgate neighborhood. Andrews was slated to be extradited back to Washington state and booked into a King County jail on investigation for murder.
However, he is currently believed to be on the run.
The Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office (CCCSO) announced that Andrews was mistakenly released from the Martinez Detention Facility on Oct. 22.
After realizing that Andrews was no longer in custody, CCCSO launched a search for him in the immediate area, but they were not able to find him. The U.S. Marshals Service has now taken over.
CCCSO is “currently investigating the circumstances” surrounding Andrews’ release. In addition to the felony homicide warrant out of Seattle, he was also being held on local charges and a juvenile warrant out of Sacramento.
The mother of the homicide victim, 20-year-old Theodore Wheeler IV, said she has received no direct contact from authorities about the mistaken release and only learned about it days after it occurred.
“I’m sad, I’m hurt, I’m disappointed. I feel like they don’t care. Nobody has notified me,” she said.
The grieving mother expressed fear about the suspect being free. She criticized the handling of the case and called for accountability.
“They shouldn’t have people in the field that are going to let something like that happen. Never, never, never should they have anybody in the field that is that negligent,” she said. “I want someone to step up and take responsibility. They’re putting my family in jeopardy.”
The loss of her son has been devastating for the entire family.
“That was my strength, the glue to the family, definitely. And everybody’s hurt. Everybody’s hurt,” she said. “I still want justice for my baby. I do. He didn’t deserve that.”
Seattle police found a 20-year-old man suffering from a gunshot wound to the chest in Seattle’s Northgate neighborhood on the evening of Oct. 15. Officers and Seattle Fire Department medics attempted to save the man’s life, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Andrews was identified as the shooting suspect, and a felony warrant was issued for his arrest in the following days. On Oct. 18, California law enforcement agencies notified Seattle police that they had taken Andrews into custody.
Andrews was slated to return to Washington state to potentially face charges.
Anyone with information on Andrews’ whereabouts is asked to call 911 or the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office at 925-646-2441.
트위터 공유: 시애틀 살인용의자 실수로 석방된 충격사건