Suspect in Seattle police slaying has Alaska ties

Christopher John Monfort, 41, is accused of killing one officer and wounding another. Police shot him on Friday while investigating a tip near his Tukwila apartment.

Authorities say they found explosives in Monfort's home Saturday. They suspect he's responsible for firebombing four police vehicles on Oct. 22 and have labeled Monfort a "domestic terrorist." He was listed in serious condition at a Seattle hospital Sunday.

As a young teenager, Monfort attended a short-lived alternative school in Bethel, said Kathy Hanson, his former teacher.

"He was a pleasant enough guy. There were only about 10 kids, and he got along with everybody," she said. Monfort was about 13- or 14-years-old at the time and soon moved out of state, Hanson said.

Monfort's mother, Suzan Monfort, remained in Bethel. She is the former manager of the Porter House bed and breakfast, Hanson said, and now operates the Bethel Curves fitness center, according to the Seattle Times.

Hanson goes to Monfort's gym. "Every once in awhile I'll just ask (Suzan), 'How's Chris?' and she says 'fine,' " she said.

Christopher Monfort visited the city about 2 1/2 years ago to spend time with his mom, said Lindsey Meyers, who worked for Curves at the time.

The mother's business partner, Vicki Malone, is a longtime friend of the family and told the Times she was shocked to learn Christopher had been accused of the Oct. 31 shooting.

"I know Chris very well, and this just doesn't sound like him," she told the newspaper. Suzan Monfort had left for Seattle to check on the condition of her son, she said.

Monfort had pointed a gun at police and tried to fire before he was shot, said Seattle Assistant Police Chief Jim Pugel.

Inside Monfort's apartment, Pugel said, investigators found two rifles, including a military-style assault rifle being examined as the possible weapon used to kill officer Timothy Brenton.

A man who answered Malone's phone Sunday afternoon declined to comment and referred all questions to Seattle defense lawyer John Henry Browne.

Browne is best known to Alaskans for defending former Mat-Su Rep. Vic Kohring during Kohring's 2007 corruption trial.

Browne plans to meet with Monfort's family today, Seattle TV station KING 5 reported.

"They're not getting any answers, they don't know about his condition, they have no access to him," Browne told KING 5. "They're certainly in shock about the whole situation."

Investigators had found a note threatening to kill police at the scene of the earlier firebombing, the Times reported.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. For links to Seattle stories about the shooting, visit our rural blog at adn.com/thevillage. Call Kyle Hopkins at 257-4334.