On the morning of September 14, 2021, 58-year-old Karin Riebe of Auburn, Washington, called 911 repeatedly as her 40-year-old son, Shawn, an Army veteran with PTSD who had recently moved in with her, experienced a severe mental-health crisis. She told a dispatcher he was acting erratically, had self-inflicted wounds on his back, had loaded a gun and ordered her out of the house. Deputies from the King County Sheriff’s Office responded but reportedly did not remove or arrest Shawn, telling Karin they lacked probable cause and advising her to leave and wait outside while he cooled off. Neighbors also called 911 on her behalf, and Karin left, making a final terrified call to her sister.

Around 1:30 p.m. that afternoon Karin returned to the house. As she entered the garage, Shawn fired 12 shots, killing Karin and the family dog. A large police response followed; after a seven-hour standoff Shawn Riebe was arrested and later charged with first-degree murder with a firearm enhancement. Karin’s family has since filed a wrongful-death lawsuit alleging the sheriff’s deputies’ failure to act contributed to her death.

What information might help clarify the decisions made by deputies during that morning response?