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Killing of Jaahnavi Kandula

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The killing of Jaahnavi Kandula (1999 – January 23, 2023) occurred in Seattle, Washington on January 23, 2023, when Seattle Police Department officer Kevin Dave hit her in his police vehicle as she crossed the street in a marked crosswalk.[1][2] Kandula was a graduate student from India at Northeastern University's Seattle campus preparing to graduate with a master's in Information Systems in December 2023. Dave was driving 74 miles per hour (119 km/h) without a continuous siren while responding to a drug overdose call, and the street had a normal speed limit of 25 miles per hour (40 km/h), making his speed a Class "A" traffic violation subject to a $440 fine.[3][4] Kandula died after the collision threw her 138 feet (42 m).[5][6]

On September 11, 2023, the Police Department released body camera footage of Seattle Police Department officer Daniel Auderer—the vice president of the Seattle Police Officers Guild—laughing and making jokes about the situation shortly after evaluating Dave for potential impairment during the fatal collision. Auderer was on a phone call with police union president Mike Solan, and he said that Kandula had "limited value" so the city should "just write a check [for] $11,000".[7] The footage was forwarded to the Seattle Office of Police Accountability and an investigation into Auderer's conduct was opened; Leesa Manion, the King County Prosecuting Attorney, also announced a criminal review of Dave's actions.[8] The released footage prompted condemnation and the Consulate General of India in San Francisco stated that the footage was "deeply troubling" and called for an investigation.[9][10]

On September 13, 2023, Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell released a condolence letter written to Kandula's family.[11] By September 29, Auderer had been suspended from patrol duty.[12]

On February 21, 2024, the King County Prosecutor's Office decided against filing criminal charges against Dave. Manion stated that the criminal review did not turn up enough evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Dave had acted with recklessness or criminal negligence, as required under Washington State law. The decision drew widespread criticism from communities in India and the US. The Kandula family declared their intent to pursue civil actions against Dave and the Seattle Police Department.[13] On July 17, Auderer was announced as having been fired.[14]

References

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  1. ^ Kroman, David (January 25, 2023). "Family of pedestrian struck, killed by Seattle cop seeks details". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on September 28, 2023. Retrieved September 14, 2023.
  2. ^ Janyala, Sreenivas (September 15, 2023). "'She dared to dream big but her life was cut short': Video of US cop laughing at Andhra student Jaahnavi's death reopens family's wounds". The Indian Express. Archived from the original on September 29, 2023. Retrieved September 14, 2023.
  3. ^ "Penalties for speed violations". Archived from the original on March 25, 2024. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
  4. ^ "Presumptive fines". Archived from the original on March 25, 2024. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
  5. ^ Beekman, Daniel (June 20, 2023). "Seattle police officer was driving 74 mph before he hit, killed pedestrian". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on October 1, 2023. Retrieved September 14, 2023.
  6. ^ Nguyen, Thao (September 13, 2023). "Watchdogs probe Seattle police union chiefs for saying woman killed had 'limited value'". USA Today. Archived from the original on September 29, 2023. Retrieved September 14, 2023.
  7. ^ Levin, Sam (September 13, 2023). "Police union leader said woman killed by Seattle officer 'had limited value'". The Guardian. Archived from the original on October 5, 2023. Retrieved September 14, 2023.
  8. ^ Paget, Sharif (September 14, 2023). "Seattle police officer under investigation as footage shows him saying woman's life had 'limited value' after she was fatally hit by police car". CNN. Archived from the original on September 28, 2023. Retrieved September 14, 2023.
  9. ^ Phair, Vonnai (September 14, 2023). "Seattle rally planned for Jaahnavi Kandula amid outrage over cop's jokes". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on September 28, 2023. Retrieved September 14, 2023.
  10. ^ "Priyanka Chopra reacts to Indian student Jaahnavi Kandula's death in US: A life is a life. One can't put any value on it". Hindustan times. September 17, 2023. Archived from the original on September 28, 2023. Retrieved September 17, 2023.
  11. ^ Harrell, Bruce (September 13, 2023). "Mayor Harrell Letter to Kandula Family" (PDF). harrell.seattle.gov. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 15, 2023. Retrieved October 9, 2023.
  12. ^ "Seattle Officer Daniel Auderer off patrol duty after laughing about death of woman fatally hit by police SUV". CBS News. September 29, 2023. Archived from the original on November 21, 2023. Retrieved November 24, 2023.
  13. ^ "Jaahnavi Kandula's death: Family says 'devastated and outraged' as Seattle officer who struck and killed her will not face charges". The Times of India. February 22, 2024. ISSN 0971-8257. Archived from the original on February 22, 2024. Retrieved February 22, 2024.
  14. ^ "Seattle Police officer caught laughing, joking about woman's death fired". FOX 13 Seattle. July 17, 2024. Archived from the original on July 18, 2024. Retrieved July 18, 2024.
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