MYNORTHWEST NEWS

Suspect in Tacoma shooting exhibited ‘odd behavior’

Dec 2, 2016, 7:57 AM | Updated: 9:25 am

 

The owner of the barbershop where Bruce Johnson worked for the past eight months until the day he was killed in a standoff with police says Johnson was exhibiting strange behavior.

“He was fired the day of the shooting for a variety of … kind of odd behavior,” Daniels told KIRO Radio. “Not opening the shop on time and kind of some confrontations with other shop employees.”

Related: Deputy commends ‘very brave’ officers

Daniels, who owns Sam & Terry’s Barbershop in Tacoma’s Hilltop neighborhood, says he left Johnson a message to turn in his key Wednesday morning but never heard back from him. The next day he learned Johnson was the man who had allegedly killed a Tacoma police officer.

Reginald Gutierrez, an officer with the Tacoma Police Department for 17 years, was shot while responding to a domestic violence call at 413 East 52nd Street. Gutierrez was pulled to safety by Pierce County deputies, but later died. His 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.

Johnson was killed Thursday morning after an 11-hour standoff with law enforcement.

Daniels says his other employees complained Johnson was quick to overreact and had even brought a gun to work recently.

Authorities discovered multiple weapons inside the house after the standoff ended.

Tacoma Police Chief Donald Ramsdell said the suspect did not have a “serious background in regards to criminal history” but there may have been issues with mental illness.

Related: Pierce County Sheriff worried we’re becoming numb to these shootings

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.

13 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.

17 hours ago

Suspect in Tacoma shooting exhibited ‘odd behavior’