Domestic violence call leaves officer and suspect dead
TACOMA, Wash. -- A Tacoma police officer who was shot on Wednesday night while responding to a domestic violence call has died of his wounds, according to police.
A standoff with the suspected shooter continued until the early morning hours Thursday, but finally ended at about 3:30 a.m. local time, when the man was shot and killed by police, according to CBS affiliate KIRO.
Tacoma Police spokeswoman Loretta Cool said earlier that the officer, who has not yet been identified, was pronounced dead at the hospital Wednesday evening.
“We’ve suffered a great loss and I think the community has suffered a great loss. I don’t know how to put that into words,” Cool said.
After 2 a.m. PST Thursday, the standoff was still ongoing with many emergency vehicles with flashing lights and numerous officers posted outside the home where the suspect had holed up. Cool said earlier that the neighborhood had been locked down while officers from multiple agencies were “working to bring it to a peaceful resolution.”
Cool said police responded to the Tacoma home and that officers called for backup soon after arriving on the scene. She said shots were fired and officers were able to get into the home to remove the officer, who had been shot several times.
Police spokeswoman Loretta Cool does not have condition on officer.
— KIRO 7 (@KIRO7Seattle) December 1, 2016
Suspect NOT in custody. #LIVE: https://t.co/C0DRMsnMfh pic.twitter.com/ucPRncNjSU
KIRO spoke to a man who said his aunt was inside the home at during the standoff.
Marcus Kroskey told KIRO the woman and the suspect were in a basement when shots were fired. A friend of the woman allegedly called 911 and police responded.
Kroskey’s aunt was taken out of the house along with two children and led to safety, according to KIRO.
It wasn’t immediately clear what led up to the shooting.
In a statement, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee said he and his wife Trudi were sending their thoughts and prayers to the family and loved ones of the officer.
“All of Washington grieves with Tacoma, which tonight lost one of their finest. Our hearts are with the men and women of the Tacoma Police Department, their families, and their brothers and sisters in law enforcement across Washington.”