A 22-year-old Renton man pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder after investigators say he intentionally crashed into his coworker's motorcycle and killed him.
A 22-year-old Renton man pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder after investigators say he intentionally crashed into his coworker's motorcycle in Issaquah and killed him last month.
A King County judge set bail for Tyler Sorenson, the suspect, at $2 million in a hearing on Thursday. Court documents identify the victim as 20-year-old Jonathon Langdon.
Issaquah police responded to the crash in the 800 block of Lake Drive just before 9 p.m. on July 31.
Surveillance video provided to investigators shows Sorenson swerve lanes and hit the side of Langdon's motorcycle, according to court documents.
Langdon was thrown from the motorcycle and collided with a metal signpost. Despite police and fire personnel performing lifesaving efforts, Langdon died shortly after at the scene, police said.
Sorenson fled from the crash and drove home, only stopping once to ensure his car was okay. He was pulled over and given a ticket by a Washington State Patrol trooper for speeding, according to court documents.
King County prosecutors claim Sorenson only returned to the crash scene after his father brought him back roughly an hour after the initial collision.
During police interviews, Sorenson admitted to intentionally hitting Langdon's motorcycle in an act of anger. Sorenson and Langdon worked together at the nearby Costco Warehouse in Issaquah, according to court documents.
Sorenson told police his "blood was boiling" after seeing Langdon hug one of their female coworkers in the Costco parking lot that night.
Sorenson claimed the young woman was his ex-girlfriend, but she denied this to detectives. She said they were not in a "dating relationship" and had repeatedly told Sorenson he was "crossing boundaries" as a friend.
Prior to the fatal crash, prosecutors allege Sorenson nearly hit Langdon and the female coworker in the Costco parking lot.
Sorenson admitted to then following Langdon in his car and driving toward him at roughly 40 miles per hour, according to court documents.
"It was stupid but I, I was, I meant to do it," Sorenson reportedly stated to police. When asked what he thought was going to happen, Sorenson told police he "didn't mean to hit him," but rather to "spook him."
A search of Sorenson's phone found messages he sent to friends shortly after the crash saying, "I f****d up bad."
A judge also granted King County prosecutors' request to bar Sorenson from having any contact with Langdon's family, their female coworker, or any witnesses of the crash. He's being held in the King County Jail.
A collection of flowers now sits at the area of the crash scene along Lake Drive in Issaquah.
“Our hearts go out to the family and friends of the victim as they process this tragic loss of life,” said Issaquah Police Chief Steve Mylett.
