Right Wingers Charged in Seattle Shooting

After a three month investigation, a right wing couple was charged in the January 20 shooting and wounding of an anarchist member of the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW). The assault took place during a protest against the appearance of alt-right provocateur Milo Yiannopoulos. (See “An Anarchist is Shot in Seattle,” FE #398, Summer 2017.)

Several hours after the shooting on the University of Washington (UW) campus, Elizabeth and Marc Hokoana, Seattle right wing activists, went to the police and confessed to involvement in the incident. Both were questioned and released without charges pending further investigation.

It took three months of examining the evidence before the UW police referred the case to the King County prosecutor who charged Elizabeth Hokoana with first-degree assault for the shooting, and Marc with third degree assault for pepper spraying protesters during the protest melee.

Bail was first set at $50,000 each, however, at their arraignment it was reduced to $10,000. Both were allowed to remain free for 48 hours to make bail arrangements. They were each able to get the necessary funds, and remain out of jail.

Both Hokoanas have gun permits, but are prohibited by the court from possessing firearms as well as barred from the University of Washington campus while the case is pending.

The couple declined plea deals because they want to go to trial. Their lawyers said the Hokoanas intend to claim self-defense, asserting that their actions were justified, and gambling that a jury will agree and find them innocent.