Police Officer Kevin Dave Who Killed Jaahnavi Kandula Will Not Face Any Criminal Charges

The Seattle Police Officer, who killed Indian student Jaahnavi Kandula, in a road accident, will not face any criminal charges due to lack of sufficient evidence. 

The King County Prosecutor’s office said that they will not move forward with the case as there is insufficient evidence against police officer Kevin Dave. 

King County Prosecuting Attorney said on Wednesday, “Kandula's death is heartbreaking and impacted communities in King County and across the world.”

“It is the responsibility of the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office to review all available evidence relating to the case involving Seattle Police Officer Kevin Dave and the January 2023 collision death of Jaahnavi Kandula. After staffing this case with senior deputy prosecuting attorneys and office leadership, I have determined that we lack sufficient evidence under Washington State law to prove a criminal case beyond a reasonable doubt,” the King County Prosecuting Attorney said in a statement.

In a memo to Seattle Police, prosecutors wrote that there was not enough evidence to prove that  Dave showed “conscious disregard for others' safety.”

Jaahnavi Kandula was walking on a street  when she was struck by a vehicle driven by police officer Dave on 23 January 2024. He was driving more than 119 kmph as he was responding to a drug overdose call. 

The statement also said that the prosecutor’s office found the comments made by the Seattle Police Officer Daniel Auderer “appalling and deeply troubling.” 

In a recorded body worn video Auderer was heard saying, “But she is dead.” 

He further said, “She was 26. She had limited value.”

“As egregious as Officer Auderer’s comments are, they do not change the PAO’s legal analysis into the conduct of Officer Dave. It is the Office of Police Accountability that bears the responsibility of disciplinary investigation and proceedings relating to Officer Auderer’s comment, not the PAO,” said King County Prosecuting Attorney Leesa Manion. 

After the incident, Auderer  was reassigned to a “non operational position.” He has to face a disciplinary schedule in the month of March.

Kandula was a graduate student at Northeastern University at the Seattle campus. Kandula’s degree will be awarded posthumously and will be presented to her family, the university said in January 2023.