It’s hard to fathom how something like this happens. A 19-year-old man allegedly stabs a 65-year-old veteran to death, and within just 27 hours, he’s walking free on bail. Let that sink in. A man who called 911 himself, calmly admitting to stabbing someone and standing outside with the weapon in hand, was released after barely a day behind bars. The victim, Michael Gray, a kindhearted handyman and veteran, was left to die from multiple stab wounds, but the accused, K’Shawn Konscience Jimerson, is back on the streets as if nothing happened.
The details of this case are nothing short of horrifying. According to reports, witnesses heard a heated argument and saw Jimerson, covered in blood and holding a large butcher knife, standing over Gray’s bleeding body. And yet, despite the gruesome nature of the crime, the judge, Michelle Gehlsen, saw fit to set bail at a mere $50,000. That’s not just baffling; it’s an insult to the memory of the victim and to public safety.
The Judge Michelle Gehlsen released this accused killer, who called in and confessed, was filmed in the act and was covered in blood when police arrived on scene out into the community with reduced bail and no monitoring??? Who are our judges and why are they endangering us? https://t.co/a3foTea6Sm
— LeftMap 🩻 (@leftmapcs) October 2, 2024
Let’s be clear about what we’re talking about here: police found probable cause for second-degree murder. Surveillance footage reportedly shows Jimerson chasing Gray down and attacking him from behind with a large wooden club, hitting him in the head not once, but three times, before the stabbing. The level of violence described here is chilling. And still, Judge Gehlsen thought a $50,000 bond was sufficient to let this man go home. For context, that means Jimerson only had to pay a fraction of that amount—likely around $5,000—to get out of jail. Meanwhile, Gray, a military veteran who spent his final hours doing honest work cleaning the walls of Jimerson’s grandmother’s apartment, will never go home again.
Seattle judge releases accused killer 27 hours after 65-year-old military veteran stabbed to death https://t.co/RGQCuIrRML pic.twitter.com/NDRKxSzOiX
— New York Post (@nypost) October 3, 2024
It’s infuriating that law enforcement officials even objected to his release, marking “yes” on a court form when asked if they had concerns. They knew exactly how dangerous this man could be, but their warnings fell on deaf ears. The prosecutor, who had asked for $2 million bail, is now scrambling to rectify this travesty by filing a motion to increase the bail. But why did it get to this point in the first place?
This isn’t just about one judge’s poor decision; it’s about a justice system that seems more concerned with giving alleged criminals a second chance than delivering actual justice to the victims. Gray’s roommates described him as a kind man who was always willing to lend a hand. He didn’t deserve this senseless, brutal death, and he certainly didn’t deserve to see his alleged killer out on the streets within hours.
And this: https://t.co/QYL5uS1p2W
K’Shawn Jimerson is the accused.
— EdelAxelsen (@Velsigne224768) October 1, 2024
There’s a hearing scheduled to revisit the bail amount, but the damage has already been done. The message this sends to the community is chilling: if you’re a violent criminal, apparently you can commit a heinous act and be back home the next day. It’s hard to find words for the level of disgust this situation evokes. Justice has failed Michael Gray, and it’s failing the public by allowing his accused murderer to roam free.
