News Release / Pierce County Sheriff’s Department — At 11:47 a.m. on Tuesday March 14th, 2017, two Pierce County Sheriff’s deputies and a detective were involved in a fatal shooting in the parking lot of the Motel 6 located on 20th St. E. in the City of Fife.
Investigators were at the motel attempting to locate a suspect who was wanted on a felony warrant for Unlawful Possession of a Stolen Vehicle and Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Deliver – Heroin.
The suspect was observed entering a vehicle in the motel parking lot; deputies blocked in his vehicle with a department vehicle to prevent him from fleeing the parking lot. As deputies approached the suspect’s vehicle and ordered him to exit the car, the suspect refused their commands. Deputies were able to take the suspect’s female companion into custody; she also had an active felony warrant for her arrest and was not injured.
The suspect backed into the department vehicle; deputies then broke out the driver’s side window with a tool and pepper-sprayed the suspect in an attempt to get him to comply with their orders to turn off the vehicle and exit.
The suspect then repeatedly drove the vehicle back and forth, striking one of the deputies who was on foot; the deputy was knocked over between the two vehicles. The other deputy and the detective then fired multiple shots into the suspect’s vehicle, striking the suspect.
The suspect was immediately pulled from the vehicle and deputies began CPR; members of the Tacoma Fire Department responded and continued CPR on the suspect but he died at the scene.
The suspect is a 36 year old transient male from Tacoma. He has been arrested 31 times and has 8 felony convictions including Attempt to Elude with an Endangerment Enhancement, Manufacture/Delivery of Methamphetamine, Theft in the 1st degree, Assault in the 3rd degree, and Financial Fraud. His female companion is 39 years old and also a transient; her felony warrant was for Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Deliver.
The Sheriff’s Department is working on scene with the Fife Police Department as the investigation continues.
