Jonathan K. Whitehead

How they died

Deadly force

In Seattle, Washington, on the Ship Canal Bridge on Interstate 5 southbound, Jonathan K. Whitehead, 33, died from multiple gunshot wounds after he lunged at police with a knife who were forced to shoot him as a deadly threat. He skidded his Chevy S10 pickup sideways to a stop across the 2 center lanes, appearing insane and agitated, and drew a large green circle with spray paint across 2 lanes after setting his truck on fire. After he was shot, they found improvised Molotov cocktail fire bombs in his truck. The freeway was closed for several hours. His mother later said that he was painting a circle of "truth", and was hooked on prescription methadone. and believes her son was going through drug withdrawal. "It wasn't so much that he was coming after the officers-- as protecting himself to stay in the circle of truth." Her son had been struggling with drug use to combat pain since he beat leukemia at a very young age.

Why we remember them

This record exists so that Jonathan K. Whitehead, and all who are named in this archive, are never reduced to a number.

References & sources