MYNORTHWEST NEWS

Tacoma police officer identified from fatal shooting

Dec 1, 2016, 11:36 AM | Updated: 3:57 pm

Tacoma police...

Tacoma Police have identified the officer shot during a domestic violence call on Wednesay night as Reginald "Jake" Gutierrez. (Tacoma Police)

(Tacoma Police)

 

Tacoma Mayor Marilyn Strickland identified the officer who was fatally shot Wednesday night as Reginald “Jake” Gutierrez.

“On behalf of our entire city, we offer our most sincere condolences to his family, his loved ones, and the men and women who wear the Tacoma Police Department badge,” Strickland said.

“We are deeply saddened by the loss of Officer Reginald ‘Jake’ Gutierrez,” she said.

Gutierrez was 45 years old and was the father of three children. He was also a grandfather.

The gunman who killed the Tacoma police officer as he was responding to a domestic-violence call continued to shoot at other officers as they tried to remove the officer from the home.

“They put together a quick rescue team and they went in immediately to confront the suspect and get people out of the house,” Tacoma police spokesperson Loretta Cool said.

Tacoma homeowner: Police handled fatal shooting with professionalism

Police successfully removed the Gutierrez from the home, but he died after being at the hospital for “a short period of time.” Cool says the officer was shot multiple times.

Cool says the 11-hour standoff with the shooter came to an end around 3:30 a.m. Thursday.

The shooter, a 38-year-old Tacoma man, had previously been arrested for intimidation with a weapon in 2015.

Photos from the scene

“The incident ended when the suspect was shot by police and was pronounced dead at the scene,” she said.

A 6-year-old boy and 8-year-old girl were reportedly used as human shields by the suspect who attempted to barricade himself in the home at 413 East 52nd Street. The two children are  reportedly the shooter’s.

The Tacoma officer’s body was transported from the hospital to the medical examiner’s office late Wednesday night as law enforcement and members of the community lined the streets to pay their respects.

Related: Community sends thoughts, prayers to Tacoma Police

Since the early morning shooting, there has been an overwhelming amount of support for the officer and the department, Cool said.

“We’ve had people give us hugs,” she added.

The number of officers killed by gunfire this year is up significantly, according to KIRO 7. That increase comes as racial tensions in the country are high. But Cool does not suspect that to be the case in Tacoma.

“No. I don’t believe that had anything to do with what occurred,” she said. “That is not my initial reaction. This was a person who had his own demons and displayed them in this fashion.”

MyNorthwest News

Photo: On Monday, Mayor Bruce Harrell announced there will be 16 new preschool classrooms across Se...

Julia Dallas

Harrell’s office announces Seattle preschool slots for thousands of kids

Thousands more families will have the chance to start their children's Seattle preschool education earlier, thanks to a program launching.

8 hours ago

Digital...

Micki Gamez

How parents can help prevent children from falling victim to online sex crimes

Chances are, if your teen has a cell phone or tablet, they either know someone or they have been the victim of an online sex crime because kids as young as seven are online more than ever. My interest in this story began almost the same time last year when my daughter came home and […]

12 hours ago

Pierce County Jail...

Bill Kaczaraba

Pierce County Corrections chief at odds with the employee guild

The Corrections Bureau's Guild has issued Patti Jackson a vote of 'no confidence,' as reported by The Tacoma News Tribune.

14 hours ago

Image: A Seattle Police Department vehicle seen during the day...

Sam Campbell

Security guard stabbed, suspect barricades inside Beacon Hill apartment

SWAT officers surrounded a complex in Seattle's Beacon Hill neighborhood after police said a man stabbed a guard barricaded himself inside.

15 hours ago

seattle indecent exposure...

Frank Sumrall

Seattle man arrested for 14 counts of indecent exposure, most near schools

A 34-year-old man was arrested by Seattle police (SPD) in connection to 14 counts of indecent exposure near Lake Forest Park.

15 hours ago

Federal Way shootings...

Bill Kaczaraba

Federal Way Police say two shootings are related

Police believe two shootings in Federal Way are related.

18 hours ago

Tacoma police officer identified from fatal shooting