Murder of Kris Kime

Who is Murder of Kris Kime?

The Murder of Kristopher "Kris" Kime was the killing of a 20-year-old Auburn, Washington resident and Highline Community College student when he was knocked down and beaten to death during the Seattle Mardi Gras Riots that occurred in Seattle's Pioneer Square district early in the morning of February 28, 2001.

Kime was bending over to help a young woman who was lying on the ground and being attacked. As he bent over, he was struck on the back of his head by Jerell Thomas. He fell onto the pavement and struck his head again. As he lay there, other rioters began to kick him. His friends and others surrounded him to protect him.

As he lay dying in the streets, police officers stood on the sidelines and watched. His friends ran to the police and asked for assistance. The police were instructed they could not enter the riot zone, so they did not intervene. Off-duty fire department workers and his friends carried Kris out of the zone onto a nearby street. He was placed in a police vehicle, driven to Harborview Medical Center, and placed on life support. He died later the following night. The cause of death was listed as resulting from a fractured skull and subdural hematoma.