Suspect wearing body armor shot and killed by Pierce County deputies
Mar 18, 2024, 7:38 AM | Updated: 3:07 pm
Deputies stopped a group of "suspicious" people at a smoke shop at the intersection of 72nd Street East and McKinley Avenue in Tacoma just after 1 a.m. on Monday, March 18, 2024. (Photo: James Lynch, KIRO Newsradio)
(Photo: James Lynch, KIRO Newsradio)
Two Pierce County deputies who were on a routine patrol shot and killed an armed man wearing body armor in Tacoma early Monday morning.
Deputies stopped a group of “suspicious” people at a smoke shop at the intersection of 72nd Street East and McKinley Avenue just after 1 a.m. The smoke shop had previously been a victim of multiple burglaries.
“When you’re doing patrol, especially at graveyard, you get to know your districts,” Pierce County Sheriff Public Information Officer Sgt. Darren Moss, Jr. told KIRO Newsradio. “This is a very busy area for us on 72nd and McKinley.”
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When they pulled over to investigate, they found one man had an outstanding felony warrant.
“They arrested that individual, and when they went to talk to the other person, he ran and produced a handgun,” Moss told KIRO Newsradio later on Monday.
By 1:44 a.m., the suspect took off running alongside railroad tracks, gun in hand. Minutes later, deputies caught up with the man. Shortly after they called on the radio that shots had been fired. While deputies were trying to perform CPR they noticed he was wearing body armor.
Despite CPR and life-saving efforts from deputies, the suspect died at the scene. The suspect was a male approximately 35 to 40 years old. No deputies were injured in the shooting.
Officers respond to a deputy-involved shooting in Tacoma early on Monday, March 18, 2024. (Image courtesy of KIRO 7)
“Very concerning that the guy took off,” Moss told KIRO Newsradio. “He had a gun and when they were doing first aid on him, they found body armor that he was wearing as well.”
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The deputies involved are on routine administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.
The Pierce County Force Investigation Team is currently handling the investigation.
James Lynch covers crime and other local stories for KIRO Newsradio. You can read more of James’ stories here. Follow James on X, formerly known as Twitter, or email him here.
Frank Sumrall is a content editor at MyNorthwest. You can read his stories here and you can email him here.
