RENTON, Wash. — King County prosecutors say a man killed his own mother in Renton and then stabbed an officer responding to that incident
Christoper Mott made his first court appearance on Wednesday afternoon. Bail was set at $5 million.
Police say Mott stabbed his mother to death in her room at an assisted living facility on Burnett Ave. S. on Aug. 3. When officers arrived later that evening, Mott allegedly ran from the officers, who chased him down. At one point, Mott allegedly stabbed one of the responding officers in the eye, prosecutors say.
In court, a King County prosecutor, Terry Carlstrom, presented the case to the court and said that surveillance footage from the complex shows Mott entering and leaving his mother’s room around the time of the deadly stabbing. The prosecutor also said that the victim died from multiple stab wounds to her neck and chest area.
Prosecutors stated in court that body-worn cameras captured Mott making a confession during his encounter with police.
“The defendant is on body-worn video camera telling officers ‘I killed my mother,’” Carlstrom said during the court hearing.
Carlstrom described the footage of the confrontation that followed as the suspect allegedly turned toward the police.
“That (bodycam) video shows that as the defendant is running away from them, the defendant turns with a knife in his hands and stabs Officer Kauppila in the eye,” Carlstrom said.
Renton police identified the responding officers on Monday with their first initial and last names. Officer J Kauppila was the officer injured, while an officer identified by Renton PD as Officer R Rivera assisted and backed up Officer Kauppila.
Despite the injury, Kauppila continued to follow the suspect.
In court, Carlstrom said that Mott turned and charged at the officer before Kauppila was able to back up far enough to use a taser and incapacitate the suspect.
Kauppila was treated for orbital fractures around his right eye and underwent three hours of surgery on Tuesday, according to the Prosecutor.
Carlstrom said in court that it was not clear whether the officer could have his vision restored. While the officer was expected to be released from the hospital Thursday, Renton police officials said he faces a significant recovery.
As of Wednesday evening, officer Kauppila was released from Harborview Medical Center.
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