Family, friends and community members gathered at a 2019 vigil in remembrance of Stonechild Chiefstick, who was shot to death by a Poulsbo, Washington, police officer after a confrontation earlier that year. Chiefstick’s case is one of five under review by the new Washington Office of Independent Investigations, which is considering whether to open a new investigation. (Ashley Ann/Kitsap Daily News)
An hour before the fireworks went off at Poulsbo, Washington’s annual Fourth of July celebration in 2019, three police officers approached Stonechild Chiefstick, a citizen of the Chippewa Cree Tribe of Rocky Boy Reservation and father of six.
The officers had received a report that Chiefstick was threatening people with a screwdriver. Less than 10 seconds later, following a brief confrontation, Officer Craig Keller shot Chiefstick twice.
An hour later, the celebration returned to normal. The fireworks went off as planned. The Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office investigated. And as is overwhelmingly common with police shootings, local prosecutors declined to charge Keller, who is white, with a crime.