Sept. 20, 2020 — Redmond, Wash. Redmond police officers fatally shot 39-year-old mother Andrea Churna at the Modera Apartments in the 8700 block of 161st Ave NE after she called 911 at approximately 9:23 p.m. to report an intruder trying to kill her.
Officers found Churna on her balcony, where she confronted them with a handgun, prompting them to fire multiple shots, according to the Redmond Police Department press release. She was pronounced dead at the scene despite CPR efforts. No other victims were found, and the King County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Unit led the investigation, with three officers placed on administrative leave.
Records obtained by KUOW showed Churna was on the ground for about three minutes before Officers Daniel Mendoza and Kevin Barnard fired the fatal shots, with six rifle bullets recovered from her body. Mendoza, who had been out of the police academy for 18 months, was the primary target of scrutiny.
In 2021, the King County Sheriff’s Office forwarded the case to prosecutors, who later declined charges against Mendoza. Churna’s family expressed frustration over investigation delays and, in 2023, appealed to Washington state’s new Office of Independent Investigations for a fresh review. The city reached a $7.5 million wrongful-death settlement with the family. Mendoza is no longer with the Redmond Police Department.
Contemporary reports from KING 5, The Seattle Times, KIRO 7, Patch, and AP News confirmed the initial details of the officer-involved shooting. The incident is listed among police killings in September 2020.
Redmond Police Chief Darrell Lowe provided community updates via the department’s Facebook page in 2021.
