A 22-year-old Costco employee is accused of intentionally ramming a coworker’s motorcycle and killing him after becoming enraged over seeing the victim hug another employee, according to police and court documents.
Tyler Sorensen, of Renton, is charged with second-degree murder in the death of 20-year-old Jonathon Langdon.
The deadly encounter unfolded near Costco’s corporate headquarters in Issaquah, where Sorensen, Langdon and a female coworker all worked.
Investigators say Sorensen became upset after seeing Langdon hug the female coworker in the Costco parking lot. Sorensen told investigators he believed the woman was his ex-girlfriend, according to court documents.
The woman later told investigators she and Sorensen had never dated and that she had previously asked him for space after he crossed boundaries in their friendship.
Surveillance video showed Sorensen driving through the parking lot at a high rate of speed and coming close to hitting Langdon and the woman, according to investigators.
Prosecutors allege Sorensen then waited about 10 minutes for Langdon to leave the parking lot on his motorcycle before following him in a gray sedan.
Sorensen caught up with Langdon on Lake Drive and struck the motorcycle from behind, sending Langdon into a metal signpost, according to charging documents. Langdon died at the scene.
The motorcycle continued traveling without its rider after the impact. Investigators said evidence found on Langdon’s body and at the scene was consistent with him striking the metal post.
Sorensen allegedly left the scene without stopping to help Langdon or calling 911, according to investigators. He later pulled over to inspect damage to his car before continuing home, court documents state.
A Washington State Patrol trooper stopped Sorensen for speeding as he drove home and issued him a citation. Authorities said the trooper did not yet know about the fatal crash.
Investigators said Sorensen had sent messages to friends before the crash expressing anger about seeing Langdon with the woman.
“My blood is boiling,” Sorensen wrote in one message, according to court documents.
Sorensen later told investigators he had become “panicked” and “riled up” after seeing the two coworkers together, according to prosecutors.
He also allegedly acknowledged intentionally making contact with Langdon’s motorcycle, telling investigators, “It was stupid but I… meant to do it,” according to court documents.
Sorensen told police he intended to scare Langdon rather than kill him, investigators said.
Sorensen initially remained away from the crash scene after returning home, investigators said. His father learned he had been involved in a crash and brought him back to the area, where Sorensen spoke with officers and was arrested.
“As the officers are processing the scene and after a period of time, the suspect came back,” Issaquah Police Chief Steve Mylett said. “Tyler Sorenson, who is 22 years old from Renton, came back to the scene and made statements to the officers, which led to his arrest.”
Mylett urged people to consider the consequences before acting in anger.
“Think about what you’re doing before you do it,” Mylett said. “Because the decision that you make today can impact so many lives.”
A makeshift memorial has since appeared near the crash site for Langdon.
Sorensen pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder during his arraignment Thursday and is being held in the King County Jail on $2 million bail.
