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Fernandez charged in Capitol Hill protest shooting

Nikolas Fernandez has been charged with one count of first degree assault after police say he drove into a crowd of protesters on Capitol Hill and shot a man attempting to disarm him.

“Although Mr. Fernandez claims to have acted in self-defense, our laws distinguish a person protecting himself from an attack from a person who provoked the attack in the first place,” a statement from King County Prosecutor Dan Satterberg on the case reads.. “Given the evidence uncovered in the past three days, there is probable cause to believe Mr. Fernandez falls in the latter category.”

CHS reported here on the police report and court document describing Sunday’s shooting that was witnessed by dozens and caught on video. In the initial report of the shooting, police say Fernandez passed through the barrier and yelled at officers, “I just had to shoot somebody, they tried to jack my car.” Police reported. According to the report, Fernandez told police his vehicle stalled and wouldn’t start after the shooting so he “exited the car with his gun in his hand yelling at people to get back away from him.” Fernandez told police he ran through the line and immediately surrendered. “Fernandez said his brother works here at this precinct, and he does not want to do anything to shame him,” the report noted.

In the charging documents, prosecutors and police did not address Fernandez’s statement about his brother. A spokesperson for the city and SPD referred CHS to the prosecutor “for additional detail on the Fernandez investigation” when we asked for more information about the connection.

In the charges, the prosecutor refutes Fernandez’s description of how he ended up in the middle of the protest crowd:

Fernandez, 31, remains held in King County Jail on $150,000 bail. UPDATE: Fernandez was released on bail just before 7 PM Thursday night.

Victim Dan Gregory continues to recover after surgery for his injuries.

“The Seattle Police Department continues to investigate this matter, and the King County Prosecutor’s Office will continuously and independently re-evaluate the case as more information comes in,” the Satterberg statement reads. “We welcome anyone with information or video related to the incident, including the time before the shooting, to contact Seattle police investigators.”

The police investigation has also hinged on videos posted online — including this one posted by CHS that shows the moment prosecutors say Fernandez sped onto 11th Ave:

The charging document filed with the court in the case is below.

 

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13 Comments
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Barista Brigade
Barista Brigade
3 years ago

Since he’s not white, shouldn’t the CHAZ’ers be demanding his release?

Eres Un Galipollas
Eres Un Galipollas
3 years ago

Most Hispanics/Latinx living in the U.S. self-identify as white, dumb-ass.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Hispanic_and_Latino_Americans

D Del Rio
D Del Rio
3 years ago

That is true, but that is only because of how the government words the US census. I am counted as a white Hispanic, but when I had a DNA test done, it showed that I am 40% Native North American from Central Mexico, and New Mexico from the United States. About half came from Southern Europe, and the rest were smaller amounts of West Afican, Middle Eastern and Nothern European. The vast majority of “Hispanics” are actually mixed race.

Ok
Ok
3 years ago

I’ve seen you comment before d del Rio. Just wondering have you ever been to del Rio Texas or is that just a name you made up I’m from there.

Dave
Dave
3 years ago

No. He attacked people. Do you always resort to false strawmen to support your lies?

bb
bb
3 years ago

Excellent. Let it be a message to those who would attempt the same and follow up with a BS story. And you have indeed shamed your brother, bro if he is capable of shame.

Fairly Obvious
Fairly Obvious
3 years ago

The CHS comment section has gone full MyNorthwest this week (never go full MyNorthwest!), which I assume is not a coincidence.

If you ever find yourself having too much faith in humanity, go read the comment section on an article there. It can even be an article on blind, orphaned children adopting puppies and the comment section will be a knuckle-dragging, typo-ridden vat of pure echo chamber filth, comparable to Breitbart.

Fairly Obvious
Fairly Obvious
3 years ago
Reply to  Fairly Obvious

Turns out MyNorthwest turned off their comment section it got so bad.

That explains the recent flood of user handles posting the same unsubstantiated garbage one would typically expect of MNW.

Rats fleeing a sinking ship. Everyone tuck your pants into your socks!

Kate K.
Kate K.
3 years ago

I think you mean he was released Wednesday night (June 10).

Peter_H
Peter_H
3 years ago

“drove into a crowd of protesters”
Seems a lot of people don’t understand the meaning of the word “into”. What they mean to say is he drove “up to” a crowd of protesters. The crowd around his vehicle formed when he stopped.

Still trying to figure out what the masked moron was doing with the barricade by pushing it onto his hood. Maybe he just wanted the resulting photos to look more dramatic.

Fairly Obvious
Fairly Obvious
3 years ago
Reply to  Peter_H

“Officer, I wasn’t driving AT them, I was driving THROUGH them.”

“Officer, I wasn’t shooting AT him, I was shooting AROUND him.”

Get bent.

Cylophin Rx
3 years ago

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