Four police officers were shot dead
in a targeted ambush at a Lakewood, Wash., state coffee house, a
sheriff's official said Sunday.
The attack occurred at Forza Coffee Co., east of McChord Air Force Base near Tacoma, Wash., about 35 miles south of Seattle.
Investigators believe the officers were targeted, and it was not a robbery. Troyer would not release their names.
t wasn't clear whether the officers even had time to draw their weapons to return fire, Troyer said.
"This was more of an execution. Walk in with the specific mindset to shoot police officers," Troyer said.
There were two employees and a few other customers in the shop. No one else was injured. All are being interviewed by the Pierce County Sheriff's investigators.
"It was just a flat out ambush," Troyer said.
Officers
are now searching for one male suspect who opened fire in the shop
before fleeing on foot, q13Fox.com reported. Police have not yet ruled
out an accomplice.
The suspect is described as a black male, 5'8 to 5'9 and in his 20s or 30s. He had scruffy facial hair with a black coat and blue jeans. He used a handgun. Is the media going to cover for this guy, too?
Police investigators have identified three of the four officers. All are from the local area. The fourth officer they are still trying to identify.
Law enforcements from all over the region have responded to the scene. King County Guardian One helicopter is in the area.
The Sheriff's Department is in the process of notifying next of kin and coworkers.
"We are having a lot of colleagues wake up to this news," Pierce County sheriff's spokesman Ed Troyer said.
The four officers were going over pre-shift paperwork when a man entered the coffee shop and opened fire with a handgun. The baristas and two customers inside were not injured.
The suspect fled on foot after the shooting.
The suspect is described a black male, 5'8 to 5'9 and in his 20s or 30s. He had scruffy facial hair with a black coat and blue jeans. He used a handgun.
There are possibly looking for another person and are searching multiple places, including residences and parking lot, Troyer said at a briefing.
There is no information on the motive for the deadly killing. There was no preexisting threat against the officers.
As of right now, there is no link to the Oct. 31 slaying of a Seattle police officer.
The Sheriff's Department is setting up a special tips line but for now, anyone with information is encouraged to call Crime Stoppers at 253-591-5959. There is a $10,000 reward.
Pierce County Prosecutor Mark Lindquist said he's following the developments in the slaying of the four officers.
"Our hearts go out to the families," he said. "One of our main concerns right now is we still have some crazy coldblooded killer or killers on the loose."
