Bellevue, Washington — On December 12, 2025, a man later identified as 38-year-old Mohamed Morray Bangura called in a fake 911 call to report what he said was a domestic violence dispute at the Bellevue Transit Center. Investigators say the caller told dispatchers that a man and woman were arguing and that the situation was escalating, prompting officers with the Bellevue Police Department to respond.
Fake 911 Call
Police later alleged the report was false and that no disturbance was occurring at the transit center. When two officers arrived within minutes, they contacted Bangura, who they said matched the description connected to the 911 call. Body-worn camera video shows officers speaking with him calmly and asking questions about the reported dispute.
During the brief exchange at the fake 911 call, authorities say Bangura abruptly pulled a knife from his jacket pocket and rushed the officers. The encounter quickly turned into a violent struggle. One officer was cut across the face and stabbed in the back. A second officer fired his weapon to stop the attack.
Both the injured officer and Bangura were taken to Harborview Medical Center for treatment. Both survived.
The case is now proceeding in King County Superior Court. Court records show Bangura has pleaded not guilty to first-degree and second-degree assault charges, each with deadly weapon enhancements. Prosecutors allege the 911 call was intentionally fabricated to draw officers to the transit center, describing the incident as a deliberate ambush.
The King County Independent Force Investigation Team released the body camera video over objections from the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, which cited concerns about protecting Bangura’s right to a fair trial.
Court records indicate Bangura remains in custody on $5 million bail and is undergoing a competency evaluation as the case continues.
Field Lessons are offered strictly as general, industry-standard reminders drawn from common safety practices and typical policy considerations. They are not based on any inside knowledge of this specific incident, do not presume what actions were taken, and should not be interpreted as commentary on the decisions made at the scene.
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Treat calls with limited corroboration as high uncertainty. Use deliberate positioning, distance, and cover while you build clarity through observation and questions.
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Maintain a reactionary gap and blade awareness during contacts. Watch hands continuously, and control proximity.
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While an ambush is designed as a surprise attack, several pre-attack indicators were present before the attack. While not common, watch the video and recognize the sudden environmental shift. The suspect went from talking to silence. This indicates a decision he was trying to make. At the same time, he became aware of his surroundings and began scanning (looking) around the area. Our research only indicated scanning in 6% of all violent encounters, but it is classified as a “high consequence” cue because when it does occur, violence often follows.
Dr. Travis Yates has pioneered a behavioral risk framework to help officers and leaders identify, assess, and articulate risk in rapidly evolving, uncertain situations. Find out more about the FOCUS Behavioral Risk Framework.
