Maurice Clemmons is now a person of interest in the targeted ambush at Forza Coffee shop in Lakewood, Washington, which left four officers dead.
Four police officers, three men and one woman, were reading their laptops at a Forza Coffee Company shop in Lakewood, WA when at least one shooter opened fire on them. The four police officers were the only ones harmed in the incident, and officials are labeling the shocking event as a “targeted ambush.”
Pierce County Sheriff’s spokesman Ed Troyer said:
“This was more of an execution. Walk in with the specific mindset to shoot police officers.”
The police believe there is only one shooter, who is still currently at large and may be Maurice Clemmons, a man with a long criminal record who was recently released from jail and was in the area. Hundreds of police officers are currently on a massive manhunt on the ground, and in helicopters. It is believed that one of the officers managed to fire a shot at the shooter before he was shot.
The shooting happened at 8:15 a.m. Sunday morning, November 29, 2009. The fallen officers were identified as Tina Griswold, Greg Richards, Ronald Owens, and Mark Renninger. You can read more about them here. Lakewood, Washington is located near Tacoma and Seattle. Forza Coffee, where the ambush occurred, issued a tribute statement today for the fallen officers.
There is a $10,000 reward for anyone with any information. Pierce County Sheriff’s shooting tip line: 1-866-977-2362. Video and more photos below:
