After years of competency evaluations and civil commitment, the King County Prosecutor’s Office has refiled charges against a man accused in the 2020 Bothell police shooting that killed Officer Jonathan Shoop and wounded Officer Mustafa Kumcur.
Prosecutors said Henry Eugene Washington is once again charged with aggravated first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, and vehicular assault in connection with a July 14, 2020, traffic stop in Bothell.
Washington faces aggravated murder charges after years of competency evaluations
Investigators said Washington opened fire on Bothell officers Shoop and Kumcur after the stop. The officers returned fire. Shoop was ultimately killed by one of Kumcur’s bullets, but prosecutors said Washington’s actions set the deadly chain of events in motion, and that if not for Washington, Shoop would still be alive.
Shoop’s brother, Evan, spoke with KIRO 7 shortly after the shooting about the man his brother was.
“My younger brother always did things the right way, and he put his heart into it. I don’t imagine policing was any different,” Evan said.
The case has been repeatedly delayed by questions about Washington’s competency to stand trial, with charges dismissed and refiled multiple times as he cycled between criminal court and civil commitment.
Most recently, Washington was civilly committed to the Department of Social & Health Services for 180 days in February 2025, a commitment that was extended another 180 days and is currently set to expire in July 2026. Prosecutors refiled the case on June 26.
Washington’s arraignment is scheduled for July 6 at 8:30 a.m. in Courtroom E1201 at the King County Courthouse.
Under the law, he is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
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