Four Lakewood Police Officers Murdered Sunday Morning

The Pierce County Sheriff's Department is investigating the Murder of 4 local police officers.

Salem-News.com

(LAKEWOOD, Wash.) - At 8:15 a.m. on Sunday November 29, 2009, the Pierce County Sheriff's Department responded to a 911 call of shots fired at the Forza's Coffee shop located at 11401 Steele St. S. in Parkland.

Pierce County Police Spokesman Detective Ed Troyer, says that when deputies arrived, they found four Lakewood Police Officers shot and killed inside the coffee shop.

"Two baristas and a few customers were inside the coffee shop at the time of the shooting, they were not injured but all are in shock and traumatized. It appears the officers were targeted and ambushed by the suspect."

He says the unidentified suspect is described as a black male in his mid-20's to mid-30's, 5'7" to 5'10" tall, medium build, scruffy, wearing a black jacket over a gray hooded sweatshirt, and blue jeans.

The four police officers were all in uniform, and were all members of the Lakewood Police Department.

The officers were one female and three males. The Lakewood Police Department will handle the release of all information regarding the officers.

The incident is being investigated by the Pierce County Sheriff's Department, with assistance from the Tacoma Police Department, Lakewood Police Department, the Pierce County Department of Emergency Management and the Washington State Patrol Crime Lab.

There will be a large police presence in Pierce County throughout the day as large numbers of law enforcement follow up on leads and tips.

The public in urged to stay away from any police activity, and to please call in any tips to the Sheriff's Department tip line at 1-866-977-2362.

A reward of up to $10,000 is being offered for any information that leads to an arrest and charges filed in this case.

Source: News release from the Pierce County Department of Emergency Management