Investigation into death of suspected Seattle car thief delayed

The Seattle Police Department’s Homicide Unit is conducting a delayed response death investigation after a reported car thief who was injured by his car owner died in the hospital.

On June 24, police were called to a North Seattle parking garage for a report of a car theft in the 6900 block of East Green Lake Way North.

When police arrived, they found an unconscious man. The 35-year-old was taken to Harborview Medical Center in serious condition.

Officers learned that the owner of the car had interrupted the reported car thief and a physical altercation ensued.

On June 28, the 35-year-old man died in hospital.

On July 3, the King County Coroner’s Office determined that the man died from a lack of oxygen to the brain caused by a chokehold. The death was ruled a homicide.

Homicide investigators have now been assigned to the case. No arrests have been made.

The man was identified as 35-year-old Cameron Lewis Heriford.