Lakewood police arrest JBLM soldier suspected in shooting
Nov 5, 2015, 11:17 AM | Updated: 10:21 pm
Lakewood police have arrested a Joint Base Lewis-McChord soldier suspected in the shooting of a man in the Tillicum area on Thursday. (Lakewood Police Department)
(Lakewood Police Department)
Lakewood police have arrested a Joint Base Lewis-McChord soldier suspected in the shooting of a man in the Tillicum area on Thursday.
Police say Jesse Suhanec, 22, surrendered at a home in the 152 block of Fern Street in Tillicum, according to KING 5.
The victim in the shooting was struck multiple times on Grant Avenue, but was able to drive himself to the parking lot of a Popeye’s Chicken restaurant at 15201 Union Avenue SW. That is where emergency crews found him. He was rushed to a hospital in critical condition. He is expected to survive, according to the Lakewood Police Department.
After the shooting on Grant Avenue, the suspected shooter attempted, but failed, to steal two cars at gunpoint as he fled.
A reverse 9-1-1 call was made to residents in the immediate area, notifying them of the search.
Lakewood police report that a suspected shooter arrived in the area in a white van with government plates. That van was a U.S. Army vehicle, and was abandoned at the scene of the shooting. It was reportedly checked out by Suhanec.
Police also report that Suhanec had taken a privately-owned firearm with him earlier on Thursday.
Nearby Tillicum Elementary School was on lock down shortly after the shooting was reported.
KIRO Radio Reporter Jillian Raftery contributed to this article.
