Help Us Raise Funds For A Private Investigator

In 2004 Herbert Hightower Jr. was shot and killed by Seattle police officer Steve Hirjak just feet from his home while experiencing a mental health crisis. At the time of his killing, Herbert's family was told conflicting and ever-changing accounts by Seattle police regarding what led to the shooting. As a result, the family is still unclear about what occurred, and Hirjak was never held accountable for his actions, instead elevated to assistant chief of police.

Unfortunately, the Hightower family was left with virtually no community support at the time, and the media (as they have with countless others), vilified Herbert based on a narrative controlled by Seattle police.

Since Herbert's killing, Hirjak has continued to have complaints filed against him. One based on his involvement in city and nationwide use of force training. Disturbingly, another was filed by family members of another Black man gunned down by SPD in 2016 that included similar inconsistencies by Seattle police.

Now as we passed the twentieth anniversary of Herbert's killing, Hirjak has since sued the city of Seattle for 5.5 million dollars and received over 800k along with retiring in March of 2024. The lawsuit is from a demotion (but since reinstated prior to his retirement as Assistant Chief of Police), he received as command officer during the 2020 George Floyd protests in Seattle. Officers were filmed using gas balls, teargas, batons and more to brutalize peaceful protestors calling for an end to police brutality and accountability. The violence was sparked by what is now infamously coined "The Pink Umbrella Incident."

There is however, a possibility that we can finally get to the truth. Please donate to help us reach our goal so we may hire a private investigator and an attorney so that our family can get the closure we deserve.

All donations will go towards hiring an attorney, an investigator and all other expenses related to fighting for justice for Herbert Hightower Jr. Thank you!

#Justice For Herbert Hightower Jr.