Tacoma police provided this timeline of the events Wednesday at Foss High School:
7:26:13 a.m.
Foss High School security officer reports shots fired inside school. He also calls for medical aid. Numerous police officers head to school. Students report hearing three gunshots in 300 hallway in north end of school, near library.
7:26:43 a.m.
First police officer arrives at school. The officer, who had been at South 19th and South Tyler streets, heard call over police scanner.
7:29:27 a.m.
Other police officers arrive and lock down school. Officers block off all entrances and stand by every door to make sure no one leaves building. Unknown to them, gunman already has slipped out of building.
7:37 a.m.
Paramedics enter school with police escort.
7:38 a.m.
First description of gunman released. He is said to have husky build and to be wearing black sweatshirt and black pants.
7:47 a.m.
As part of prearranged plan, police form three “active shooter” teams and start going through school.
7:49 a.m.
Pierce County sheriff’s deputies advise they are able to assist Tacoma police.
7:53 a.m.
Dispatchers relay more detailed description of gunman to Tacoma police and area law enforcement officers.
7:55 a.m.
Through witness accounts, officers identify suspect, and detectives head to his last known address in Tacoma.
8 a.m.
Updated description of suspect released to patrol officers. Detectives find no one home at his home.
8:01 a.m.
Tacoma Public Schools administrators arrive at school.
8:18 a.m.
Police dog starts tracking suspect.
9:12 a.m.
Police dog’s track comes to dead end near Snake Lake.
9:23 a.m.
Vonitha Carter spots young man who fits description of gunman walking near her home in 4500 block of South 16th Street, and calls 911.
9:33 a.m.
Patrol officer William Budinich arrests suspect without incident in 2000 block of South Tyler Street, about a block from school. Handgun recovered.
12:47 p.m.
Suspect booked into Pierce County Jail on suspicion of first-degree murder. He’s put on suicide watch.
Stacey Mulick, The News Tribune
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