Seattle police released bodycam footage that captured the fatal shooting of a suspected child predator at a Tukwila hotel this week. The video shows the tense moments leading up to the deadly encounter involving multiple undercover officers from the Seattle Police Department’s (SPD) Washington State Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce.

The suspect, a 67-year-old man, believed he was meeting two young girls, aged 7 and 11, at the DoubleTree Suites hotel around 3:13 p.m. on Wednesday. Unbeknownst to him, officers were conducting an undercover sting operation to arrest him. When officers opened the door, the man flashed a gun, leading to a scuffle and an eventual shootout. The suspect was fatally shot and later pronounced dead at the scene, while a Seattle officer was grazed by a bullet in the leg.

SPD Chief Adrian Diaz commented on the inherent dangers of such operations, noting that cases involving internet crimes against children have increased by 67% from 2022 to 2023. “These situations are dangerous, unpredictable, and can escalate rapidly,” he said.

The incident highlights the ongoing threat of online child exploitation. According to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), the online enticement and exploitation of children is growing exponentially, with the CyberTipline receiving 36.2 million reports of suspected child sexual exploitation in 2023. Online enticement reports alone have seen a 300% increase over the past two years.

Despite this alarming trend, public awareness of these crimes remains low. The NCMEC’s Harris Poll revealed that 88% of parents considered child abductions their biggest concern, while online safety barely registered, illustrating the need for greater awareness and education on these issues.

Witnesses at the hotel described the chaos and confusion that followed the shootout. Eric Wehrmeister, who was staying several rooms down from the shooting, mentioned hearing a “rapid succession of gunfire” and expressed relief that the shots were fired away from his room.

This incident underscores the importance of ongoing efforts by law enforcement to combat child exploitation and protect vulnerable children. It also serves as a stark reminder that child predators can be lurking closer than many might think, reinforcing the need for vigilance and proactive measures to keep children safe.