Suspect in Capitol Hill streetcar stabbing pleads not guilty

SEATTLE – A man accused of stabbing another man to death at the Capitol Hill light rail station has pleaded not guilty to murder charges.

Shawn Moore, a 26-year-old man accused of murdering Seattle Chief Corey Bellett, was apprehended May 13 in Eatonville, Washington, about 30 miles from the crime scene.

Two days earlier, Moore allegedly stabbed Bellett after a fight.

According to court documents obtained by FOX 13 News, Bellett brushed past Moore and another man while going down the escalator at the Capitol Hill light rail station. Moore and the other man confronted him, which quickly escalated into an argument when Bellett allegedly called them homophobic slurs, and then the third man tried to put his arm between the two of them to prevent a fight from breaking out. Court documents say Bellett pushed Moore, then Moore pushed back, and the two began grabbing each other's clothing, slapping, pushing and shoving each other.

The third man tried to separate the two men. Moore then pulled out a box cutter and stabbed Bellett again and again, even after Bellett fell onto the railroad tracks and was trying to back away, according to court documents.

Bellett went off the tracks and was seen bleeding profusely on surveillance video. Seattle police and firefighters were called to help, but Bellett later died at Harborview Medical Center.

According to documents, Moore threw away the murder weapon and clothing he was wearing during the altercation.

In court on May 29, Moore's family pleaded with the judge to have him released, saying they would take care of him.

Moore's father also said his son had a bad childhood and believed he suffered from PTSD. He said his son had no other criminal history.

Bellett's father, Dennis, did not want to hear Moore's father's plea.

“I read the autopsy report. It was not self-defense. There were three wounds. This is a heinous criminal act… This man has no business being in the community. I don't care from his past. He made a decision to kill my son and he must be held accountable,” Dennis said.

Moore, who shed tears in court, pleaded not guilty to murder.

Bellett's family requested that bail be increased from $3 million to $5 million. A judge kept bail at the originally set amount.

Moore is also accused of attempting to intimidate a witness.

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