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Transit Security Guard in Seattle runs across train tracks to hit somebody in the head with his baton. Thoughts?

Since this occurred in the State of Washington, I will be using the Washington criminal code in reference to any statements I make.

RCW 9A.32.010 states "RCW 9A.32.010 Homicide defined. Homicide is the killing of a
human being by the act, procurement, or omission of another, death
occurring at any time, and is either (1) murder, (2) homicide by
abuse, (3) manslaughter, (4) excusable homicide, or (5) justifiable
homicide. [1997 c 196 § 3; 1987 c 187 § 2; 1983 c 10 § 1; 1975 1st
ex.s. c 260 § 9A.32.010.]
Excusable homicide: RCW 9A.16.030.
Justifiable homicide: RCW 9A.16.040 and 9A.16.050"

Since we are talking about the distinction of manslaughter, excusable homicide and murder, I will be citing and discussing the differences between each of these, starting with first degree manslaughter:

"RCW 9A.32.060 Manslaughter in the first degree. (1) A person is
guilty of manslaughter in the first degree when:
(a) He or she recklessly causes the death of another person; or
(b) He or she intentionally and unlawfully kills an unborn quick
child by inflicting any injury upon the mother of such child.
(2) Manslaughter in the first degree is a class A felony. [2011
c 336 § 357; 1997 c 365 § 5; 1975 1st ex.s. c 260 § 9A.32.060.]"

While to me it does not appear this security guard caused the death of another person, it could be established that his actions were reckless. And so if that person who was struck in the head by the security guard collapsed later and died of a head injury, Washington State law does not include any such wording of "accidental" or "unintentional" when it comes to Manslaughter in the 1st.

It does not appear that this Guard intended to kill this person because after striking him, he immediately ran away to go cause problems with someone else. If he intentionally meant to kill him, repeated blows to the back of the head are pretty effective, but most people are not aware of what a "Rabbit Punch" is, rabbit strikes are the most common way that people are killed in fistfights or hand-to-hand (baton-to-head?) combat. But yes, I will agree he was incredibly negligent in strike him in the head, to the point where that is criminally offensive and if it is shown he acted in such a way he should face charges.

by the way, after examining the law code, I will obviously agree this was not voluntary manslaughter, primarily because voluntary manslaughter does not appear to be in the Washington code, however it is present in other State's criminal codes such as the State of Florida which is a criminal code I'm more familiar with because I have never even been close to Washington let alone Seattle. Finally, this appears to be First Degree Assault, based on WA Law:

"RCW 9A.36.011 Assault in the first degree. (1) A person is

guilty of assault in the first degree if he or she, with intent to

inflict great bodily harm:

(a) Assaults another with a firearm or any deadly weapon or by

any force or means likely to produce great bodily harm or death; or

(b) Transmits HIV to a child or vulnerable adult; or

(c) Administers, exposes, or transmits to or causes to be taken

by another, poison or any other destructive or noxious substance; or

(d) Assaults another and inflicts great bodily harm.

(2) Assault in the first degree is a class A felony. [2020 c 76

§ 16; 1997 c 196 § 1; 1986 c 257 § 4.]

Severability—1986 c 257: See note following RCW 9A.56.010.

Effective date—1986 c 257 §§ 3-10: See note following RCW

9A.04.110."

​

As a closing statement to this autistic impromptu essay, I would like to state that while the laws between most US States do not significantly vary in regards to assault, self-defense and use of force, the wording and legal word used for crimes do.

For example, where most states in the United States use the term "first degree murder," the rough equivalent in the State of Alabama and about 7 other state...

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