Friends: Police shooting of student 'makes no sense'

SEATTLE - Friends and co-workers are speaking up on behalf of the man who was shot and killed by police after he pointed a rifle at them while wearing a Nazi-era uniform, calling him a harmless history buff.

Miles Allen Murphy, 22, a senior at the University of Washington, was shot several times when he pointed a bayonet-style military rifle at officers during the bizarre incident. He died of his injuries hours later at the hospital.

The scene of the police shooting.

Murphy was wearing a World War II Nazi-style German military uniform when he was shot by police.

The shooting incident took place after police responded to a report of gunshots fired in a back alley in the 5200 block of 17th Avenue Northeast at about 1:55 a.m. Thursday.

A neighbor said he saw about five men dressed in dark clothing and military uniforms - one with a rifle, another with a shotgun - firing their weapons. The men fled when police arrived.

During a house-to-house search, Murphy came out of the front door, armed with a military-style infantry rifle with a large bayonet on the end. The rifle was aimed in the officers' direction.

Officers yelled "drop the weapon" several times, but Murphy did not respond, according to police.

Murphy then pointed the rifle directly at the two officers, and would not surrender, officials said. Fearing for their safety, and for the safety of the public, police opened fire and struck Murphy several times. He died hours later at Harborview Medical Center.

Friends of the UW senior shared a similar reaction to the shooting - disbelief over the alleged actions of the man who many describe as harmless.

"I just started crying. It just didn't seem real," said Mallory Lopriore, a friend. "I'm sure he was shocked to see police in the first place."

At the Red Mill Burger Shop in Phinney Ridge where the man worked the counter for the past 2 1/2 years, as many as 20 workers are struggling to make sense of the tragedy.

"It wasn't his intention to hurt anybody," said Siri Longaker, a friend.

"It literally makes no sense," said Lopriore.

During a search of the house after the shooting, police found a large amount of military attire and Nazi regalia and paraphernalia. There was also a large amount of alcohol in the residence.

Friends said Murphy was a history major who liked to dress up in period costumes. Co-workers described a time when he came to work wearing lederhosen only to leave wearing a full-on Civil War uniform.

"He's a history buff. I mean, there's a big, big difference," said a male co-worker.

Unsettled, Murphy's co-workers placed candles and flowers in the window of the restaurant in his honor.

"We don't know what to do right now. We're all in shock," said Michael Shepherd, Murphy's employer.

"He has a lot of friends and a lot of people who care about him and miss him," said Longaker.

Seattle Police Chief Gil Kerlikowske said he believes alcohol played a role in the tragedy.

Officers involved in the shooting have been placed on paid administrative leave during the investigation as is standard such cases.