Four officers shot dead at coffee shop near Parkland south of Tacoma
Four local police officers were killed this morning at a Parkland-area coffee shop south of Tacoma.
The gunman walked into the coffee shop and shot two of the Lakewood officers as they sat down. The other two officers stood up. One officer was killed. The fourth officer fought the gunman and may have injured him. The officer was able to fire his weapon said Pierce County sheriff’s spokesman Ed Troyer said.
Troyer reiterated that there’s been no specific threats against area law enforcement officers. “This is something that happened on its own, without warning,” Troyer said.
Dozens of investigators backed by search dogs and a helicopter were hunting for the killer. ATF is now on the scene, assisting with the investigation.
Witnesses described the killer as a black man, 5-foot-8 to 5-foot-9, in his 20s or 30s, with scruffy facial hair, wearing a black coat and blue jeans.
He walked into the Forza coffee shop at 11401 S. Steele St. about 8:15 a.m. and opened fire with a handgun on the four officers, who were at a table doing preshift paperwork.
The man then fled southbound.
Troyer said that the coffee shop was a common gathering spot for Lakewood and Tacoma police officers and Pierce County sheriff’s deputies. The shop is two blocks from Lakewood, two blocks from Tacoma and within the county’s jurisdiction.
“It’s a safe spot,” said Troyer, where officers can plug in their computers, work and share information.
The officers – three men and one woman – all worked for the Lakewood Police Department. All were in uniform and were wearing bulletproof vests. Their families have been notified, Troyer said.
They are the first Lakewood officers killed in the line of duty since the department was formed in 2004.
“This was an execution, no doubt,” Troyer said. “This was a targeted attack.”
Lakewood city leaders called the event horrific, and said they would do what they can to take care of the officers’ families.
“I think it is Lakewood’s saddest day,” Lakewood City Councilman Walter Neary said.
Former Lakewood Police Chief Larry Saunders, now an Army officer at Fort Lewis, said he was shocked by the killings.
“I’m horrified. I just can’t believe the news,” Saunders told The News Tribune by telephone from Canada, where he was skiing.
“I’m the old guy around there, and I kind of feel like they’re my sons and daughters,” Saunders continued. “They clearly are the very best Washington has to offer. I’m heartbroken over this.”
The Champions Centre will hold a prayer vigil tonight for the slain officers and their families. The vigil is at 6 p.m. at 1819 E. 72nd St., Tacoma, according to the church’s Twitter account.
The Pierce County Sheriff’s Department will be the lead investigating agency on the homicides.
Sheriff Paul Pastor addressed the assembled news media at the scene about 12:20 p.m. Pastor said law enforcement was working as “rapidly as possible” to catch the gunman.
“This is an example of the danger police officers, deputy sheriff’s and state troopers face every day,” Pastor said. “We’ve lost people that we care about.”
The gunman not only “harmed us, they harmed the good we can do in the community,” the sheriff said.
Troyer said if anyone sees police activity, to stay away.
Rebecca Radcliffe, manager of the Subway Shop on the corner of 112th and Steele streets, said four officers would often come in on Sunday and stay two to three hours. She didn’t know them personally.
The officers would talk to Radcliffe about Lakewood and the apartment complex where she lived.
“Nothing like this has happened like this before,” she said. “It’s still a little scary to know that people out there are like this.”
Next to the Subway is a Extra Mile convenience store where Samuel Munson works Saturdays and Sundays. He said a couple of Lakewood officers are regulars at the store. He doesn’t know them personally.
Law enforcement officials from all over the region have responded to the scene, and crime-scene technicians were inside the coffee shop about noon gathering evidence. Search-and-rescue crews also were called in, presumably to look for evidence.
The Sheriff’s Department is in the process of notifying next of kin and co-workers. “We are having a lot of colleagues wake up to this news,” Troyer said.
The baristas and two customers inside were not injured.
Police are possibly looking for another person and are searching multiple places, including residences and parking lot, Troyer said at a news briefing. There is no information on the motive for the deadly killing. There was no preexisting threat against the officers.
As of right now, there is no link to the Oct. 31 slaying of Seattle police officer Timothy Brenton, who was gunned down as he and a colleague sat in a patrol car in Seattle. Police have arrested a man in connection with that case.
The Sheriff’s Department has set up a special tips line: 1-866-977-2362. Tipsters also can call Crime Stoppers at 253-591-5959. There is a $10,000 reward.
Pierce County Prosecutor Mark Lindquist said he’s following the developments in the slaying of the four officers. “Our hearts go out to the families,” he said. “One of our main concerns right now is we still have some crazy coldblooded killer or killers on the loose.”
The coffee shop is located near an industrial park area and a Coca Cola distribution plants. It borders McChord Air Force Base.
Mike Bostwick drove the coffee shop this morning as just as a couple of police cars were arriving moments after the shooting.
“I saw three vehicles pulling into Forza right off the bat,” he said. “I was trying to say out of the way.” Bostwick said the officers have been working on gang issues in the area. “I feel safe again,” he said. “I think the response is wonderful.”
Jim Waldeck of Spanaway said he was on his way to Ralph’s Tavern for a cup of coffee like every day. He drove by the coffee shop and saw two Lakewood cars out front. “That’s not unusual,” Waldeck said. “It’s pretty scary.”
At Rollies Tavern nearby, the plasma TVs usually tuned to football had Northwest Cable News on.
Three bar patrons live next door to the Forza.
Jerry Arnold, 45, was in bed when he was awakened by sirens. He’s lived there seven years and never seen anything close to Sunday’s scene. “I’ve never seen anything like it,” he said. “It’s always been a nice area to live. “I hope they get them. I can’t sleep until they do. Those guys could be hiding in my backyard.”
Drew Ruttin, 29, says the area is relatively low-crime: “it’s a busy enough thoroughfare that it stays safe. But this is just crazy.”
David Gabrielson, 27, lives in the Willow Park Apartments across the street. He’s a cashier at the nearby 76 station. He got into work at 8. At 8:30 to 8:45 a.m., “the cops started going crazy. Tons of cars blaring their sirens,” he said. “This neighborhood’s not that bad. At least I used to think so.”
Initial research suggests that the shooting of four Lakewood police officers ranks as the worst attack on law enforcement in state history.
Nationally, the worst incident involving law enforcement casualties is the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. Reports from that incident say 72 police officers were killed, though the circumstances differ. Officers and other emergency workers responding to the attacks died in the course of rescue attempts as opposed to direct confrontations with assailants.
In March of this year, four Oakland, Calif., police officers were fatally shot – the worst casualty count in that state since 1970, when four highway patrolmen were killed.
Lakewood Police Chief Brett Farrar is visiting the families of the slain officers now. He is expected to brief reporters later today
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