A man was in critical condition Monday after a Lakewood police officer shot him when he fired at officers who were chasing a suspected car thief Sunday night, police said.
Two officers in a patrol car started chasing a stolen car at Gravelly Lake Drive and Interstate 5 about 9:45 p.m., and continued on northbound I-5 until the car exited at East Portland Avenue, police spokesman Chris Lawler said.
The officers were able to stop the car, at which point the suspect started shooting at them, Lawler said.
The officers fired back, and the suspect was hit, Lawler said.
Initial reports that the man had died at the scene were incorrect, he said.
The 35-year-old man was taken to a local trauma center with life-threatening injuries, according to Tacoma Fire.
He was in critical condition Monday, Tacoma police spokesman Mark Fulghum said.
No officers were injured.
Tacoma police were handling the investigation, and the Lakewood officer was to be put on paid administrative leave, which is standard procedure in the case of an officer firing his weapon, Lawler said. The department was not releasing the name of the officer Monday, he said.
The Portland Avenue exit was closed Sunday while crews responded.
alexis.krell@thenewstribune.com
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