Police are saying that an assault suspect was killed following an exchange of gunfire with Tacoma police. At about 12:30 p.m a 911 caller reported his uncle assaulted him at a residence on the 6700 block of South Monroe Street, and Tacoma police were dispatched at about 2 p.m., according to a PCFIT news release from Lakewood Police Chief Mike Zaro. Officers arrived at about 2:20 p.m.
Officers reported, “Shots fired, suspect down,” less than a minute after arriving on the scene. Officers approached the assault suspect with medical personnel at 3:08 p.m. and found him dead.
A Tacoma Police Department spokesperson said no officers were injured but declined to say whether officers fired. Law enforcement dispatch recordings indicate officers traded gunfire with the suspect. The Pierce County Force Investigation Team, a group of regional law enforcement agencies that investigates uses of deadly force, was activated for the incident.
The 911 caller told dispatchers his uncle didn’t use a weapon but had access to several guns and might attempt to “shoot police,” according to a news release. Tacoma police developed probable cause to arrest the assault suspect at about 2:45 p.m. but he refused to cooperate with officers, according to a news release.
Officers reported that the suspect was shooting at them at 2:57 p.m., according to a news release. Just after 3 p.m. an officer reported gunfire on South Madison Street, a block west of the involved residence, according to a news release.
