Police shootout on I-5 causes more than 10 miles of backups

A shootout on I-5 that left a homicide suspect dead caused miles of backups in Lakewood on Saturday.

The Washington State Department of Transportation reports northbound I-5 was down to one lane around 11 a.m. Backups reached more than 10 miles.

NB I-5 down to 1 ln in Lakewood for lengthy police investigation. May extend beyond noon. NB backups now reach over 10 miles. Avoid area!

— WSDOT Tacoma Traffic (@wsdot_tacoma) February 20, 2016

As of 1 p.m., the investigation into the police-involved shooting was still going on, with slowdowns remaining in the northbound lanes, as well as southbound I-5 and westbound SR 512.

NB I-5 police investigation in Lakewood also causing slowdowns on SB I-5 and WB SR 512. Hearing investigation could last a few more hrs.

— WSDOT Tacoma Traffic (@wsdot_tacoma) February 20, 2016

A dozen police officers shot and killed a homicide suspect during a gun battle along the interstate Saturday morning.

The man, in his 40s, had killed his girlfriend as she worked at a nursing facility in University Place near Tacoma, at about 6:15 a.m., said Pierce County Sheriff’s Detective Ed Troyer. Police soon spotted him and chased his vehicle southbound on I-5 as he shot at them.

The suspect exited the highway and then got back on heading north, at which point the pursuing officers forced his car to spin out near an exit for Tillicum, said Lakewood Police Lt. Chris Lawler.

The man took cover behind his vehicle and engaged police in a shootout, Lawler said. Twelve officers from three agencies – Lakewood and Steilacoom police, as well as the sheriff’s department – shot back, killing him.

No officers were injured in the gunfire, Lawler said.

The highway was closed in the area for the investigation.

The Associated press contributed to this story.