Texts Tyler Sorensen sent after the hit-and-run allegedly read “my blood is boiling” and “I f—ed up bad”
Credit: King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office
NEED TO KNOW
- A 22-year-old man allegedly hit his coworker’s motorcycle in a jealous fit of rage after he saw him hug their female coworker
- Police said Tyler Sorensen admitted to intentionally striking fellow Costco employee Jonathon Langdon in an act of “anger”
- Texts Sorensen sent to friends after the hit-and-run allegedly read “my blood is boiling” and “I f—ed up bad”
A Costco employee allegedly crashed his vehicle into a coworker, knocking him off his motorcycle and killing him out of jealousy.
Tyler Sorensen was arrested and charged with second-degree murder after he followed his coworker, Jonathon Langdon, out of a Costco parking lot in Issaquah, Wash., and swerved to strike Langdon’s motorcycle on the evening of July 31, the New York Post and ABC affiliate KOMO News reported, citing court documents.
Around 9 p.m. local time, Sorensen, 22, swerved lanes and rammed his sedan into Langdon’s bike, sending the 20-year-old into the air, according to the outlets. The hit-and-run was caught on surveillance video — which “showed the suspect vehicle striking the motorcycle, causing the rider to lose control and suffer fatal injuries,” according to the Issaquah Police Department (IPD).
After Langdon was thrown from his vehicle, he collided with a sign. Court documents state that Langdon can be seen in the footage “violently impacting the metal signpost, causing his body to wrap around the post and recoil backwards, landing face down,” per the Post.
Langdon died at the scene despite lifesaving efforts, the IPD said. He had been wearing a helmet at the time of the crash, according to the Post.
Credit: Issaquah Police Department
Sorensen allegedly followed Langdon from the Costco parking lot after he saw Langdon hug one of their female coworkers, whom prosecutors said he was interested in, according to the Post and KOMO News.
He later admitted to police that he intentionally struck Langdon’s motorcycle in an act of “anger,” the IPD said.
“It was stupid but I, I was, I meant to do it,” he reportedly told detectives, per KOMO News. He also told police that he “didn’t mean to hit” Langdon and just wanted to “spook him,” the outlet reported.
Sorensen claimed that the female coworker was his ex-girlfriend. However, she told police they were not dating, per KOMO News. She also said she had repeatedly told Sorensen that he was “crossing boundaries,” according to the outlet.
The Post reported that Sorensen said he became “panicked” and “riled up” after seeing his coworkers hug. He allegedly sent a photo of the pair embracing to his friends, per the outlet.
“Always told me he was just a friend,” he allegedly said in the text message. “My blood is boiling.”
“I f—ed up bad,” Sorensen allegedly then wrote in another message to friends that was sent shortly after the crash, per KOMO News.
Prosecutors allege that Sorensen nearly hit both Langdon and their female coworker in the Costco parking lot prior to the fatal crash. He then allegedly waited 10 minutes for Langdon to leave before following him, according to the Post.
After hitting Langdon with his sedan, Sorensen fled the scene and drove home, according to KOMO News and the Post. He pulled over only to check the damage to his vehicle, and after he was stopped and issued a speeding ticket shortly after, per the outlets.
Sorensen later returned to the scene an hour after the crash when his father learned of the situation and brought him back to surrender to authorities, the outlets reported, citing prosecutors.
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During his arraignment on Thursday, Aug. 6, Sorensen pleaded not guilty to the second-degree murder charge.
A judge set bail for the former Costco employee, who is being held in the King County Jail, at $2 million. The judge also barred him from contacting Langdon’s family, his female coworker or any eyewitnesses to the hit-and-run, per KOMO News.
Sorensen is due back in court on Aug. 27. It is unclear whether he has obtained legal representation to comment on his behalf.
PEOPLE has reached out to Costco for comment.
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