US police officer who struck and killed Indian student Jaahnavi Kandula won’t be charged

The Seattle police officer who killed Jaahnavi Kandula, a 23-year-old Indian student last year, won’t be criminally charged, the prosecutors informed on Wednesday (Feb 21)

Kandula was struck and killed by the police officer in a South Lake Union crosswalk while responding to an overdose call in January 2023.

“After staffing this case with senior deputy prosecuting attorneys and office leadership, I have determined that we lack sufficient evidence under Washington state law to prove a criminal case beyond a reasonable doubt,” said prosecutor Leesa Manion.

According to a memo issued to the Seattle Police Department, the King County prosecutor’s office noted that Officer Kevin Dave, who was driving 119 kph on a street with a 40 kph speed limit in a police SUV, had his emergency lights on. Other pedestrians reported hearing his siren and that Kandula appeared to try to run across the intersection after seeing his vehicle approaching.

It also added that Kandula may have been wearing wireless earbuds that could have diminished her hearing.

“There is insufficient evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Ofc. Dave was consciously disregarding safety,” read the memo.