Man dead after shooting at Washington State Patrol troopers on I-5 in Pierce County
A shooting between a man and Washington State Patrol troopers that began on I-5 and ended in Spanaway left the man deceased Tuesday.
State Patrol reported the man was firing shots at troopers on the highway after they conducted a traffic stop at State Route 512 in the morning. Law enforcement agencies throughout the county then got involved in the pursuit, according to the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department.
Shots were fired at deputies and state troopers as the man was driving fleeing, Pierce County Sheriff’s spokesman Sgt. Darren Moss said.
The pursuit ended at 5th Avenue Court East and 205th Street East in Spanaway, where the man exhanged fire with law enforcement, Moss said.
“It is extremely dangerous for everybody that was in the area,” he said. “Just looking at the street down there, there’s multiple vehicles with bullet holes in them.”
The man was struck by gunfire and died at the scene. The Pierce County Force Investigation Team is taking over the investigation, Moss said. Law enforcement on the scene were uninjured.
Police activity caused traffic backups on state Route 7 southbound near Roy Y to Mile Post 46.7 near 8th Avenue East, according to Washington State Department of Transportation.
This story was originally published July 2, 2024 at 12:00 PM.
