Christopher Mott remains held on $5 million bail after prosecutors charged him with murder, burglary and assault in the Renton case.

RENTON, Wash. — A 42-year-old Washington man accused of fatally stabbing his mother inside her Renton apartment and seriously wounding a police officer during an attempted arrest has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder, first-degree burglary and first-degree assault, according to prosecutors and local reporting.

Christopher Mott entered the plea Aug. 11, eight days after authorities say a late-night disturbance at the Cedar River Terrace Apartments developed into a homicide investigation and the serious injury of a responding officer. A judge kept Mott’s bail at $5 million, and FOX 13 Seattle reported that a trial date was set for Oct. 5. The filed charges include deadly weapon enhancements, according to reports citing the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. Mott is accused of killing his mother, 79-year-old Colleen Marie McCue. He has not been convicted, and his not guilty plea leaves the allegations for the court process to resolve.

The case began shortly before midnight Aug. 3, when Renton police were sent to the apartment complex at 51 Burnett Ave. S. after several 911 callers reported unusual noises and damage near the building’s entrance. Early reports included a possible vehicle crash into the building or possible gunfire. When officers arrived, they instead found shattered glass at the front doors and a metal parking sign or post that had been badly bent. Investigators later reviewed surveillance video that they said showed Mott using the metal object to damage the entrance before going inside, according to a probable cause statement described by local news organizations.

That alleged forced entry later became an important part of the prosecution’s case. At Mott’s first court appearance, authorities were still investigating him for second-degree murder involving domestic violence and first-degree assault. After police submitted additional material, prosecutors filed more serious and broader charges: first-degree murder, first-degree burglary and first-degree assault. Reports from the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office said the murder, burglary and assault counts each involved allegations tied to a deadly weapon. Prosecutors have not publicly established Mott’s guilt; the charging documents state the government’s accusations and will be tested in court.

Police say officers encountered Mott outside the complex as they investigated the damaged entrance. According to the probable cause account, he ran from officers and a foot pursuit followed. One officer reported seeing Mott pull a long dark object from his waistband and move toward him. That officer fell backward as Mott continued running, according to the account. A second officer followed. Police allege that Mott then turned and struck at the pursuing officer with a knife. The officer was wounded around his right eye and face before police were able to take Mott into custody.

The officer’s injuries became a separate major part of the criminal case. Initial court records described a significant eye injury and said the officer was awaiting surgery. Police later told FOX 13 Seattle that the officer had been released from the hospital and was recovering at home. The department said the recovery was expected to take time. As of the most recent detailed update reviewed for this report, authorities said it was too early to know whether the officer would suffer permanent vision loss. The officer’s condition is reflected in the first-degree assault charge against Mott.

Authorities say statements Mott made during his arrest then shifted officers’ attention back to the apartment building. The probable cause account says he made a statement indicating that he had killed his mother. As officers continued restraining him, investigators say he added that it “felt great.” The language is an allegation documented in police and court materials and does not by itself establish the elements of the charges. Police also reported that Mott made another ominous comment while he was being arrested. News reports have not identified a publicly established motive for the alleged killing.

Officers returned to Cedar River Terrace after those statements and began checking on Mott’s mother. Police reported seeing blood in common areas leading toward an apartment, including around an elevator and the unit’s door area. Inside the residence, they found an adult woman dead. Authorities later identified her as McCue. Early probable cause documents described multiple sharp-force injuries, while subsequent reporting identified McCue as Mott’s mother. The King County Medical Examiner’s Office and Washington State Patrol Crime Lab were among the agencies involved in processing evidence after the discovery.

Cedar River Terrace is a Renton apartment property designated for residents age 62 and older, according to Renton Housing Authority information. McCue was 79. The setting helped explain why the initial police response — reports of breaking glass and a possible impact at the front of the building — quickly raised concerns beyond the damaged entrance itself. Police contacted apartment management and reviewed surveillance material as they reconstructed what happened. Those records, along with the physical evidence and Mott’s alleged statements, formed part of the sequence described in the early court filing.

The court proceedings have also clarified how the case changed in its first several days. After Mott’s arrest, a judge found probable cause to hold him while investigators and prosecutors completed their initial review. Prosecutors requested $5 million bail, which the court imposed. At that stage, the prosecutor’s office emphasized that a probable cause finding after an arrest was not the same as a final felony charging decision. The formal charges followed after the case was referred for review. Mott then appeared for arraignment and pleaded not guilty, moving the case from its initial investigative stage toward pretrial proceedings.

Several issues remain unresolved publicly. The reports reviewed do not identify a confirmed motive for the alleged attack on McCue. They also do not establish whether the wounded officer will have permanent damage to his vision. No report reviewed for this article described a final forensic conclusion tying every piece of physical evidence to Mott, and the prosecution still bears the burden of proving its allegations in court. The alleged statements attributed to Mott are likely to draw attention, but the charges depend on the complete evidence presented through the legal process rather than on a single reported remark.

Mott remained subject to $5 million bail following his not guilty plea. The most recent court update located for this report listed Oct. 5 as the trial date. Until the case is resolved by plea, dismissal or trial, the allegations against him remain unproven. Police have said the injured officer is recovering, while the prosecution of the killing of McCue and the assault on the officer continues in King County Superior Court.

Author note: Last updated September 21, 2026.