The below is the Weekly Press Release for the investigation of the fatal shooting of Nicholas Ellingson by an Auburn Police Officer on December 17, 2020. This release is required by WAC 139-12 even if there is no new information to provide. This release has not been edited from its original form.
This is the release for December 31, 2020:
VIIT personnel Detectives are continuing their work on this investigation conducting follow up interviews and analysis of collected evidence. We remain in contact with the Ellingson family and are working towards completion of the investigation. We also remain in contact with appointed Community Representatives who attended our briefing to the Auburn Police Department Command staff. Final reports from the King County Medical Examiner, and associated laboratory results have not yet been received.
Public notifications will be released weekly until the conclusion of the investigation. Media Inquiries regarding the Independent Investigation may be forwarded to Commander Todd Rossi of the Tukwila Police Department at (206) 391-8236.
As per Chapter 139-12 WAC, please note that information regarding any officer involved shooting cannot be released by an independent investigation team without first notifying the non-law enforcement community representative assigned to the investigation and the family liaison of the involved subject. VIIT will endeavor to incorporate questions received from the media into subsequent press releases.
{A list of the VIIT investigators and agencies for this incident is available upon request.}