Update 5-22-24

The King County Prosecuting Attorney said that the suspect in the hit and run fatality that took place in White Center April 22 has been released due to lack of evidence.

Original post 5-17-24

Casey McNerthney of the King County Prosecutor's office shared information with the media on Friday regarding the suspect in the hit and run incident in White Center that took the life of 81 year old, Thomas Joseph Garnett on April 22.

"This afternoon there was a first appearance hearing for Isaiah L. Cooper, who was arrested in a King County hit-and-run incident investigation.

King County prosecutors asked for Mr. Cooper to be held on $500,000 bail and for the court to find probable cause for Hit and Run Death. After hearing from prosecutors and defense, the court found probable cause for Hit and Run Death and set bail at $500,000....

We anticipate the King County Sheriff’s Office referring a case to prosecutors by Monday for a charging decision. That is a routine timeline – case referrals for charging decisions typically come after first appearance hearings. Mr. Cooper is expected to remain in jail on the bail amount set by the court.

The next update will be Monday by 5 p.m., earlier if possible."