WW II German military garbed UW student killed
by police was Red Mill employee

by | Jan 2, 2009

A 22-year-old University of Washington student garbed in vintage Nazi-era clothing who was shot and killed by Seattle Police early the morning of New Year’s Day, worked at Red Mill Burgers.
We’ve been told his name is Miles Murphy. The picture at the right is from his MySpace page and there are already a couple memorial posts on it. In his profile, he describes himself in part:

I live in a 1920s room and I only enter the 21st century when absolutely necessary. I’m a senior at the University of Washington. I’m a Scandinavian Area Studies major and German Culture and Literature major. I also speak Swedish and German pretty well, and some Finnish.

Police say they got a report of a group of men shooting in an alley shortly before 2 a.m., Jan. 1.  

The suspects were reported to be armed with rifles and/or shotguns and wearing military clothing. Uniformed officers arrived on scene and were confronted by an adult male suspect who was armed with a rifle. Officers identified themselves and ordered the suspect to drop the rifle. The suspect failed to comply. The suspect pointed the rifle at the officers at which time the officers shot him. The suspect was transported to an area hospital where he later died.

Co-workers got together at the store on Phinney Ridge Thursday night to remember the young man who had a penchant for the past, but no love for Nazism. They say Murphy was shooting blanks in the air shortly before the shooting, disputed whether he pointed a gun at police and say he wasn’t given time to drop the rifle before police opened fire. There’s more info here as well.

Murphy’s family, friends and co-workers have our condolences.

Recent Posts

Phinney Ridge and Greenwood Community Councils host discussion on Draft Comprehensive Plan and rezoning PhinneyWood

Phinney Ridge and Greenwood Community Councils host discussion on Draft Comprehensive Plan and rezoning PhinneyWood

New juried art show debuts at the 44th PhinneyWood Winter Festival 

New juried art show debuts at the 44th PhinneyWood Winter Festival 

Two-part screen printing workshop at Dabble November 9th and 16th

Two-part screen printing workshop at Dabble November 9th and 16th