Updates from Parkland-area crime shooting scene
The News Tribune
3:30 P.M. MONDAY UPDATE: There are still viable leads as to Maurice Clemmons' whereabouts. Most of the tips are coming out of the north.
There are no valid tips outside of Washington, Puyallup police Lt. Dave McDonald said. Investigators have followed more than 100 physical leads so far. Many, many more tips have come in.
There's been speculation that Clemmons worked at or was associated with a car wash across the street from the coffee store.
"I''ve heard that too," McDonald said.
Late Monday after noon, the Pierce County Sheriff's Department said it would be moving its command post to the Pierce County Emergency Operations Center, 2501 S. 35th St, Suite D (Pierce County Annex).
12:30 P.M. MONDAY UPDATE: Maurice Clemmons continues to be sought. Officers are following tips on his whereabouts in Seattle and Pierce County.
The most valuable tips are in Seattle, Puyallup police Lt. Dave McDonald said during a briefing. "We don't believe he's in the Parkland area."
McDonald said investigators believe Clemmons, who was shot in the torso during the shooting, is getting help.
"It's apparent people are helping him," McDonald said. "Anyone helping him ... will be held accountable."
He added that not finding Clemmons in the Yessler Way house early today was extremely frustrating for officers.
"We expect to follow all the leads," McDonald said. "It's a true manhant."
Investigators did find a gun inside the Forza coffee shop.
McDonald said the key to the investigation was the light-colored pickup truck spotted by a witness right after the shooting. The witness reported that Clemmons got into the truck.
An alert Pierce County deputy quickly found the truck abandoned at a grocery store parking lot in Parkland. The truck was registered to Clemmons, McDonald said.
At the crime scene, the investigation and land search continues. The Pierce County sheriff's dive team is responding to search a pond at a nearby apartment complex for any possible evidence.
McDonald added that he knew Sgt. Mark Renninger, one of the slain officers. He said all Pierce County officers are in shock over the slayings.
"We are trying to stay busy," McDonald said.
Five Pierce County sheriff's deputies planted small American flag amid the piles of flowers at the Parkland memorial scene.
9:15 A.M. MONDAY UPDATE: Investigators believe they have found the gun used the slayings. It was found at the crime scene.
Five police dog teams and 25 search and rescue volunteers are sniffing around the Parkland crime scene right now. They are searching the Willows apartments. The teams performed the search yesterday.
Meanwhile, Pierce County prosecutors are working on charging documents for Clemmons.
7:55 A.M. MONDAY UPDATE: Seattle police did not locate Maurice Clemmons in a Seattle house but continue to search the neighborhood for him.
Prosecutors have charged Clemmons with four counts of aggravated first-degree murder and a warrant has been issued for his arrest.
Pierce County sheriff's spokesman Ed Troyer said investigators want to get him into custody before anyone else is injured.
"He has been shot and he is armed and he knows we are looking for him," Troyer said. "We believe him to be very desperate and dangerous."
A reward for Clemmons' arrest has been increased to $125,000.
7:08 A.M. MONDAY UPDATE Pierce County Sheriffs spokesman Ed Troyer said police have searched the Seattle house and did not locate suspect Maurice Clemmons. There is a warrant out for his arrest on four murder charges.
The neighborhood Leschi neighborhood in Seattle is still locked down.
"He is on the run" said Troyer. Or he could be hiding in the bushes nearby he added.
Troyer said they have recovered the handgun at the Parkland shooting scene. Police did not specify what type of gun it was.
6:20 A.M. MONDAY UPDATEPierce County Sheriffs spokesman Ed Troyer said Seattle police have had "issues with the robot" that is searching the Seattle house where the suspect Maurice Clemmons, 37, is believed to be cornered. Clemmons is wanted in the shooting of four Lakewood police officers Sunday morning at a coffee shop in Parkland.
This is slowing down the search and officers will have go into the multi-story house and search it on foot.
Troyer also said the suspect "made comments the night before to people that he was going to shoot police and watch the news."
Police said the suspect was driven from the area of the shooting in Parkland, but they dont know who did the driving. The vehicle was later found abandoned in a grocery store parking lot at South 131st Street and Pacific Avenue.
The police said they have identified the person who drove him to Seattle and have them in custody. It is not clear if the person who drove him to Seattle knew what Clemmons had done.
South Steel Street between South 112th and 116th streets has been closed since the shootings Sunday morning at about 8:15 a.m. It will be closed for hours today as the police continue to work on reconstructing the crime scene at the Forza coffee shop in Parkland.
Overnight, the two memorials beneath the floodnights at the 76th Chevron Station have grown with flowers and stuffed animals. A candle burns by one of the memorials.
8:00 P.M. UPDATEReward has been increased to $120,000.
5:00 P.M. UPDATENew information released from Pierce County sheriff's spokesman Ed Troyer said:
The gunman walked into Forza, past the officers and up to the counter as if he was going to place an order. He opened up his coat. The barista turned and ran.
The gunman then turned around and opened fire on the officers.
About 250 tips have come in on the case.
The four officers had previously worked for other agencies. One of the four had worked for the Pierce County Sheriff's Office.
The reward has been increased to $100,000.
3:40 P.M. UPDATENew information from Ed Troyer:
It appears one of the slain officers fought with the gunman. The struggle started inside the coffee shop and went just outside the door, Troyer said.
The officer was able to fire his weapon. It's not known if the suspect was injured.
UPDATE: 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.
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.
ATF is now on the scene, assisting with the investigation.
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.
3 P.M. UPDATEThe Pierce County Medical Examiner's Office will be moving the bodies of the four slain officers in the next hour or two. When that occurs, a motorcade of Lakewood police officers will escort the bodies to the Medical Examiner's Office, Pierce County sheriff's spokesman Ed Troyer said.
Investigators have been clearing buildings in the area and talking to people. One of those locations was Evergreen Self Storage on 112th Street.
"There was somebody in there but it was not the suspect," Troyer said.
UPDATE: From reporter Scott Fontaine ...
Antonio Robinson, who lives in a nearby apartment complex, had a different take on the crime situation in the neighborhood. The 28-year-old works the graveyard shift at a nearby gas station and said the area takes a different personality at night.
"It's a whole different place at night," said Robinson, who has lived in the area for three years. "Looks can be deceiving."
Robinson said he often watched people being arrested at night. He also saw a woman attacked in a drive-by shooting two years ago.
"It doesn't surprise me that four people had been shot," he said. "It is surprising that four cops were shot, though."
1:20 P.M. UPDATEThere's still not much new to report.
Sheriff's spokesman Ed Troyer estimates hundreds of officers - many off duty - have responded to the scene to lend a hand and their support. Tactical officers from King County and Seattle police are there.
Investigators told three news crews who were in a nearby neighborhood to move along.
Troyer described the crime scene as "horrific."
12:40 P.M. BRIEFING: A short time ago, officers checked out a 911 call from someone who claimed to the shooter. It was not, sheriff's spokesman Ed Troyer said who spoke at a 12:40 p.m. press briefing.
"We are trying to figure out why that happened," Troyer said. "It was a non-issue."
Investigators are watching a couple of vehicles. They've found one home empty. They are looking in several cities, Troyer said.
"We appreciate the tips coming in," Troyer said.
He reiterated that investigators have no motive for the slaying. Detectives are talking to the witnesses. Troyer is waiting to hear from the detectives.
Troyer said investigators are tracking video from multiple sources, looking for images of the suspect. He was last seen running away on foot.
Troyer said the four slain officers worked as a patrol team.
NOON UPDATE: Reporter Mike Archbold reports there are roughly 75 marked and unmarked police cars at the scene.
The Pierce County Search and Rescue have arrived on the scene.
The suspect came into the coffee shop and opened fire. The slain officers were wearing bulletproof vests.
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.
"I don't see much crime here," Munson said. "I don't feel unsafe. I keep a couple of things with me."
He said a couple of kids ran off with some beer Saturday night.
UPDATE: Crime scene technicians are working at the coffee shop.
UPDATE: Four police officers shot dead at coffee shop near Parkland
The Pierce County Sheriffs Department has reported that four police officers have been shot dead in an ambush at the Forza Coffee shop at 11401 on South Steele Street near Parkland Sunday morning.
