A 22-year-old Costco employee is accused of deliberately ramming a coworker’s motorcycle and killing him after becoming enraged over seeing the victim hug a woman he was reportedly infatuated with.
Tyler Sorensen allegedly followed 20-year-old Jonathon Langdon out of a Costco parking lot in Issaquah, Washington, after spotting Langdon hugging their coworker Samantha Peterson, according to prosecutors.
Langdon was riding a motorcycle, while Sorensen was behind the wheel of a gray sedan.
Video obtained by The California Post allegedly shows Sorensen catching up to Langdon and striking the back of his motorcycle.
The impact sent Langdon flying into a metal street sign, killing him almost instantly, according to court documents.
His motorcycle continued moving without a rider before eventually hitting a curb.
“Langdon’s body is seen violently impacting the metal signpost, causing his body to wrap around the post and recoil backwards, landing face down,” prosecutors wrote in court documents.
When first responders arrived, Langdon was reportedly lying face down and still wearing a black motorcycle helmet.
The force of the crash was so severe that the visor had separated from the helmet.
Court documents said Langdon’s shirt had been pulled up from his waist and there was an impact mark across his lower back.
Investigators said the mark appeared to match the width and circular holes of the nearby metal signpost.
Prosecutors allege the deadly confrontation began minutes earlier in the parking lot at Costco’s headquarters in North Issaquah.
Sorensen allegedly became furious after seeing Peterson and Langdon hug.
“Always told me he was just a friend. My blood is boiling,” Sorensen allegedly texted friends along with a photo of the two coworkers embracing.
Authorities said Sorensen then drove his car within just a few feet of Peterson and Langdon in the parking lot.
He allegedly waited about 10 more minutes for Langdon to leave on his motorcycle before following him.
Investigators say Sorensen did not stop after the crash to help Langdon or call 911.
Instead, he allegedly drove away and later pulled over to inspect damage to his sedan and make sure the vehicle was still drivable.
In a bizarre twist, Sorensen was stopped for speeding by a Washington State Patrol trooper while driving home.
The trooper reportedly did not yet know that a fatal hit-and-run had just occurred nearby and simply issued Sorensen a citation.
Authorities said Sorensen returned to the crash scene only after his father learned what had happened and brought him back to surrender.
After his arrest, Sorensen allegedly admitted that he intentionally struck Langdon.
“It was stupid but I… meant to do it,” he allegedly told investigators.
Sorensen reportedly said he became “panicked” and “riled up” after seeing Langdon hug Peterson.
Peterson, however, told investigators she and Sorensen had never dated.
She also said she had repeatedly told him that he was “crossing boundaries” and that she “needed space.”
Sorensen pleaded not guilty during his arraignment Thursday.
A judge set his bail at $2 million and ordered him to remain in custody.
He is scheduled to return to court on Aug. 27 for a routine pretrial conference.
