A Seattle police officer who struck and killed a Northeastern University graduate student from India with his patrol car in 2023 has been fired, police announced this week.

Seattle’s interim police chief on Monday fired the officer who fatally struck a 23-year-old graduate student from India with his patrol vehicle in January 2023 while responding to a call. The case ignited outrage and attracted widespread attention after another officer was recorded on his body-worn camera making callous remarks about the death of Jaahnavi Kandula.

The Seattle Police Department had a net gain of one officer in 2024, breaking a four year streak of a net loss of officers. City leaders have identified the need to boost staffing within the Seattle Police Department after a mass exodus of officers leaving the force since 2020.