Tacoma police: Suspect in officer’s death shot and killed
Nov 30, 2016, 6:05 PM | Updated: Dec 1, 2016, 10:02 am
The man who shot and killed a Tacoma Police officer Wednesday was killed after an hours-long standoff.
Tacoma police spokesperson Loretta Cool says the standoff came to an end around 3:30 a.m.
“The incident ended when the suspect was shot by police and was pronounced dead at the scene,” she said.
Cool says an 8-year-old boy and 11-year-old girl who were in the home with the suspect were rescued and unharmed. They are being evaluated at the hospital just as a precaution.
The officer killed was a 45-year-old man who was with Tacoma PD for 17 years.
Tacoma police: Officer killed during domestic call
The police officer was killed after a domestic violence call. He was taken to Tacoma General Hospital where he later passed away.
Tacoma homeowner: Police handled fatal shooting with professionalism
“Our officer was pronounced dead at the hospital … in a short period of time,” police spokesperson Loretta Cool said Wednesday night.
The 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. Cool said the Honor Guard will standby at the ME’s office until he’s laid to rest.
“We’ve suffered a great loss,” Cool said. “I think the community has suffered a great loss,” Cool said. “I don’t know how to put that into words other than everyone here appreciates the kind words and thoughts.”
Related: Community sends thoughts, prayers to Tacoma Police
The shooting happened at 413 East 52nd Street around 5:30 p.m. The officer was responding to a domestic call and requested back up shortly before reporting shots were fired. Multiple shots were reportedly heard in the neighborhood.
Tacoma police then engaged in a standoff with the suspect who was barricaded inside a home.
KIRO 7 reports that the suspect shot at a sheriff’s helicopter hovering above the scene.
The Washington State Patrol was called to the scene, along with a SWAT team, the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office and ATF.
