By
Casey Smith
January 5, 2009
At approximately 2 a.m. on New Year’s Day, UW senior Miles Allen Murphy was shot several times by Seattle Police Department officers in the basement stairwell of his apartment complex near the corner of Northeast 52nd Street and 17th Avenue Northeast. He died hours later after being taken to Harborview Medical Center.
Murphy, 22, was dressed in a World War II-era German military outfit. Along with the uniform, Murphy also had an authentic WWII rifle with an attached bayonet, which witnesses say he was firing into the alley behind his apartment before police arrived.
“I was woken up by three or four loud bangs,” said a tenant who lives in Murphy’s building. “I just assumed they were firecrackers.”
The tenant wished to have his name witheld.
The tenant said he looked out his bedroom window and saw three or four young men in the alley behind the apartment, two of them armed with rifles and one of whom was dressed in a WWII-era military uniform. The tenant did not know at the time that the young man dressed in the uniform was his neighbor, Murphy, who lived in the basement apartment.
After watching the men fire three rounds over the top of a residential house, the tenant decided to call 911. He was one of several people who called in that night.
Minutes later, four officers arrived on scene, two armed with rifles. They confronted Murphy as he was standing in the basement entrance to the apartment building.
“They shouted as many as eight or 10 times, identifying themselves as police officers and saying very clearly and loudly to put down the gun,” the tenant said. “It was pretty unmistakable.”
According to The Seattle Times, officers fired seven rounds after Murphy pointed his rifle at the officers.
“It sounded like a volley of fire all at once, and then I didn’t hear anything,” the tenant said.
After securing the scene, police officers confirmed that Murphy’s rifle had been loaded with blanks. Alcohol was determined to be a factor and was found inside the apartment, according to a Times article.
Murphy was a senior in the Germanics department at the UW. Those who knew him were shocked to hear of his death.
“The Miles Murphy I got to know in class was perceptive, conscientious, thoughtful and intelligent,” said Hellmut Ammerlahn, a professor in the Germanics department who had Murphy in class last quarter. “He struck me as highly disciplined, a model of neatness, modesty and gentleness in appearance as well as in behavior.”
Eric Ames, an advisor in the Germanics Department, had Murphy in several classes.
“He was a very good student on the dean’s list,” Ames said. “Quiet and reserved but very intelligent and hard working. He was always present; he had a lot of potential.”
According to the Times, the two police officers who fired rounds have been placed on administrative leave, as is standard procedure in such cases. The shooting is currently being investigated, but no wrongdoing on the officers’ part is suspected.
Students who live in the surrounding area north of campus have conflicted feelings about the incident.
“It’s sad that it happened but if [Murphy] wasn’t responding to police I guess it was their best option,” said Meagan Zoerb, a UW senior who lives only two blocks away from where the shooting occurred. “It’s good to know that there were a lot of police around, but it’s scary to know that police would shoot somebody. I just don’t know.”
The tenant who lives in Murphy’s building and dialed 911 has been trying to make sense of the events since they happened.
“I think the root of this is some exceptionally bad judgment,” he said. “None of us will ever know what Miles was thinking.”
Reach news editor Casey Smith at news@dailyuw.com.
14 Comments
#1 anonymous
on January 6, 2009 at 10:05 a.m.(Hanoi, Vietnam | Unverified Name)
Tragic death, strange circumstances, hard choices, life lost.
*bows his head*
#2 Miguel Sanchez
on January 6, 2009 at 1:19 p.m.(Stillwater, OK | Unverified Name)
Tragic, but what is one to expect mixing alcohol and guns...I wish I could hate the cops, but it seems the fault lies elsewhere.
#3 Jeff Mead
on January 6, 2009 at 1:27 p.m.(Bellingham, WA | Unverified Name | UW Community)
Yeah, when the cops shoot you seven times in your own basement stairwell, the fault definitely does not lie with the cops.
#4 Zach Neuhaus
on January 7, 2009 at 10:55 p.m.(Seoul, Korea, Republic of | Unverified Name)
1. Cops were told blanks were being fired by another witness.
2. Cops verified Miles' gun was in fact loaded with blanks (after he got shot).
3. Police shot him 7 times (overkill? I think so).
4. ANYONE who knows Miles would say he is a nice, peaceful guy who loves history and we all find it EXTREMELY hard to believe that he "pointed his rifle at the police".
5. There are witnesses other than the police... why does Miles' family not get to talk to them?
I don't hate cops, but I think the more likely scenario is that Miles was very, very drunk and dressed up in a German uniform carrying an old rifle. That part I agree with. What I think happened (in contrast to Miles "locking eyes with police" and "pointing rifle at police") was that he began putting the rifle down and because he was drunk he stumbled or something and the cops unloaded cuz they were scared. I find that a way more plausible answer... and because the cops were told it was loaded with blanks, and because they saw that it was loaded with blanks when they checked it, they exaggerated the story because, really, they're the only witnesses to the few seconds that preceded Miles getting shot.
#5 Zach Neuhaus
on January 7, 2009 at 10:57 p.m.(Seoul, Korea, Republic of | Unverified Name)
Also, look at the picture of the basement entrance where Miles got shot. At 2 AM how well lit do you think it was? Is it not at all possible the cops couldn't clearly make out what Miles was doing and so decided to shoot instead of risk it?
#6 UWstudent
on January 8, 2009 at 12:11 a.m.(Bellevue, WA | Unverified Name)
I don't like cops or hate cops.
Point is, police officers can't rely just on witness accounts, they have to rely on their training. The police didn't know anything about this student other than he HAD a gun and they had to be cautious. So what if they were firing blanks? They could have easily loaded the rifles with real rounds anytime. Not to mention it was 2am in the morning, in a dark alleyway and also on New Years, they probably had to be more alert on a holiday where usually a lot of people get intoxicated. It doesn't matter if the student was pointing the rifle at them or not, any sudden movement could be taken as a hostile action. You also need to consider the crime that has been going on in the U district area, I'm sure they had to be more careful.
What if the cops that handled this situation took their chances and got killed just like that one cop several years ago from a drugged up unarmed naked man who managed take the officer's firearm and shoot him dead? Many people would probably comment "Oh those cops are stupid, they should have shot him".
Since Alcohol was involved, the student was definitely probably intoxicated and didn't make a good decision since his judgment was impaired.
I think the cops were not wrong in their judgment, assuming they did "identify themselves as police and warn the student to put down the gun multiple times". I do agree that it was unnecessary that the police shot him 7 times. It's horrible that the student couldn't put it down and keep it down in time. Such a tragedy this happened, it could have totally been avoided.
Everyone needs to look at the perspectives of both sides in this given situation, assuming that this was the case.
Anyways, my condolences to everyone directly involved in tragedy.
Rest In Peace, Miles Murphy
#7 m
on January 10, 2009 at 8:48 p.m.(Redmond, WA | Unverified Name | UW Community)
All it takes is one shot to take any man from harming anyone else. WHY SEVEN? WHY? If anything, one shot to the arm or leg is all that was needed. Cops need to stop shooting all at once because they get excited with THEIR guns! I respect the police, but not in situations where they take their power and overuse it.
#8 NA
on January 11, 2009 at 11:35 a.m.(Renton, WA | Unverified Name)
This is a very tragic event. No one ever wants to see anyone else shot.
Taking a step back from the situation. Say you didnt know Miles as a quirky and intelligent student.
All you knew is a man was in the street, shooting a weapon several times, and not responding to police demands that he puts the weapon down.
Say you were a mother and feared that a stray bullet would come into your house?
Granted 7 times is completely too much, I 100% agree that one shot to the leg would have been all that was needed. I am sure that the police have a protocol for this behavior and they acted with in it.
This is tragic, but one cannot fire a gun (with blanks or anything else)in public, period. And guns and alcohol should never be mixed.
#9 Kurt
on January 12, 2009 at 10:49 a.m.(UW Campus | Unverified Name | UW Community)
Police training / protocol is to aim for the body. Intentionally aiming to shoot the target in the leg or the arm is for Dirty Harry movies, not real life. Similarly, when the target makes a suspicious move warranting fire, then it is likely that all officers, due to their common training, would likely evaluate the motion in the same way, firing at more or less the same time. It is not about overuse of power.
It was a tragic event, but there is no evidence presented so far that the police behaved in an inappropriate manner.
Peace upon Mr. Murphy and those who loved him.
#10 "Citizen" as opposed to "resident"
on January 30, 2009 at 9:55 a.m.(Denver, CO | Unverified Name | UW Community)
4 officers
Rifle pointed at them
4 double taps
I'm afraid that our young drunk student should have been hit 8 times.
One of the officers needs a refresher @ the range.
Use your heads people!
Firearms and alcohol DON'T mix!
Truly unfortunate, but how about the four officers who now have to live with having killed an innocent (but stupid!) young man? It was NOT their fault!
#11 Zachary Neuhaus
on February 4, 2009 at 6:16 p.m.(Seoul, Korea, Republic of | Unverified Name)
I would just like to mention that the above comments were not made by me. I heard about them from someone else and just want to set the record straight. I am friends with Miles and I am deeply saddened by this loss but those comments were not made by me. Please delete them.
#12 Zach N.
on February 4, 2009 at 6:20 p.m.(Seoul, Korea, Republic of)
Sorry, had trouble figuring out how to "verify" my name. The most recent comment by me is me and the two before it are not. Hope this clears it up.
#13 Nathan P
on October 19, 2009 at 2:07 p.m.(Oceanside, CA | Unverified Name)
This is the cops fault. 7 rounds maybe overkill after the fact but have a loaded rifle pointed at you after having reports that this rifle has been firing eraticly and you make your decision. No offense but this dumbass kid had it coming. You dont fire weopans off in a residential area. Blanks or no blanks. Because they all sound the same and cause harm to others. Specially mixed with being drunk. Be glad it was a cop and not a regular citizen that shot this dumbass. Might be a nice quiet kid but most say the same things about serial killers. Dumbass wearing a Nazi outfit. This aint broadway.
#14 Asama Bin Obama
on November 6, 2009 at 5:30 p.m.(Redding, CA | Unverified Name)
The pigs shot a fellow nazi...Pigs are criminals with badges and guns...Pigs are chickshit cowards to boot...Fuck the PIGS
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