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Four police officers shot dead at Lakewood coffee shop

Adam Lynn and Stacey Mulick | The News Tribune • Published November 29, 2009

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Four local police officers were killed this morning at a Parkland-area coffee shop south of Tacoma.

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Lakewood police officers killed

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 and may have injured him. The officer was able to fire his weapon said Pierce County sheriff's spokesman Ed Troyer said.

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.

Dozens of investigators backed by search dogs and a helicopter were hunting for the killer. ATF is now on the scene, assisting with the investigation.

Witnesses described the killer as a black man, 5-foot-8 to 5-foot-9, in his 20s or 30s, with scruffy facial hair, wearing a black coat and blue jeans.

The gunman walked into the Forza coffee shop at 11401 S. Steele St. about 8:15 a.m. He walked 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.

He then turned around and opened fire with a handgun on the four officers, who were at a table doing preshift paperwork.

The man then fled southbound.

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.

The officers – three men and one woman – all worked for the Lakewood Police Department. The four officers had previously worked for other agencies. One of the four had worked for the Pierce County Sheriff's Office. All were in uniform and were wearing bulletproof vests. Their families have been notified, Troyer said.

One of the four Lakewood police officers killed this morning has been identified on Facebook and by one Eastern U.S. television station as Mark Renninger.