A chilling ambush unfolded last week in Washington state, a stark reminder of the risks faced by law enforcement. A Bellevue police officer was deliberately lured to a false emergency and viciously attacked, highlighting the growing dangers confronting those who serve and protect.
Mohamed Bangura, 38, allegedly orchestrated the calculated assault at the Bellevue Transit Center. Identifying himself as “Jude” and claiming origins from Sierra Leone, Bangura now faces multiple felony charges for a crime that unfolded with terrifying speed.
The attack began with a fraudulent 911 call, a fabricated report of a domestic dispute. Bangura urged dispatchers to send officers, then abruptly disconnected, creating a trap designed to draw law enforcement into a deadly confrontation.
Officers Sean Winebrenner and Guilherme Spagnolo arrived on scene eight minutes later, completely unaware of the danger awaiting them. They approached Bangura, who confirmed making the call, exhibiting no outward signs of aggression or hostility.
The calm shattered in an instant. Without warning, Bangura lunged at Officer Spagnolo with a five-inch kitchen knife, initiating a brutal attack. Spagnolo managed to evade the initial downward thrust, but the violence quickly escalated.
Bangura then turned on Officer Winebrenner, slashing his face and knocking him to the ground. While Winebrenner lay vulnerable, Bangura repeatedly stabbed him in the back and shoulder, inflicting serious injuries.
Winebrenner sustained a dislocated shoulder, a broken collarbone, and severe facial wounds, requiring immediate medical attention. He was transported to Harborview Medical Center and thankfully released the following day.
Officer Spagnolo, reacting instinctively to save his partner’s life, fired his service weapon six times, striking Bangura three times. Bangura was also rushed to Harborview, where he remains in intensive care with gunshot wounds.
Prosecutors have charged Bangura with first-degree assault for the attack on Officer Winebrenner and second-degree assault for the attempted attack on Officer Spagnolo. The deliberate nature of the ambush is central to the case.
According to charging documents, Bangura bypassed the proper channels for filing a complaint and instead chose violence against unsuspecting officers responding to a perceived crisis. The prosecutor requested a $5 million bail, emphasizing the premeditated nature of the crime.
Investigators confirmed that all calls related to the incident originated from the same phone number, solidifying the evidence of a carefully planned attack. The details reveal a calculated attempt to harm those sworn to protect the community.
Despite the severity of the crime, standard policy in Washington state prevents the release of Bangura’s mugshot, a practice that shields the accused while placing the burden on law-abiding citizens and the officers who put their lives on the line.
