Four Lakewood Police Officers Killed

Early Sunday morning, four police officers were shot and killed at coffee shop in Parkland, Washington while working on their laptops. A massive manhunt ensued through Tacoma and Seattle until Maurice Clemmons, the suspect, was killed by police Tuesday in South Seattle. The officers, three men and one woman, were in their late 30s and early 40s. They leave behind children, and grieving families.

This story is complex and tragic. I've been proud how our paper has followed this story, online and in print.

Below, are some images from the last few days.


Cadet Baz, with Pierce County Sheriff’s department, checks people in and out of the crime scene Sunday, Nov. 29, 2009 near Parkland, Washington where four police officers were shot to death Sunday morning inside Forza Coffee at 14401 Steele Street South.


An individual walks near the scene of the crime near Parkland, Washington where four police officers were shot to death Sunday morning inside Forza Coffee. Different agencies vehicles were parked on Steele St. S, leading to the coffee shop.


Officers talk near the corner of Steele St. S and 112 St. S. Sunday, Nov. 29, 2009 near Parkland after four police officers were shot to death.


Tacoma Police Officers wait outside of a gas station on the corner of Steele St. S and 112 St. S near Parkland. The officers said they were off-duty, and came to help. They said they will likely help escort the bodies out of the crime scene.


Tacoma Police Officer John Parkes talks with other officers outside of a gas station on the corner of Steele St. S and 112 St. S near Parkland. The officers said they were off-duty, and came to help. They said they will likely help escort the bodies out of the crime scene.


Christina Hood, 29, and her boyfriend Josh Horton, 30, watch officers investigate Evergreen Self-Storage Sunday, Nov. 29th near Parkland. They are residents of The Willows apartments, located across the street from Evergreen.


Armed sheriff officers investigate Evergreen Self-Storage Sunday, Nov. 29th near Parkland.


Residents of The Willows apartments watch armed officers investigate Evergreen Self-Storage Sunday, Nov. 29th near Parkland.


Pierce County Sheriff officers turn onto on Steele St. South Sunday, Nov. 29, 2009 near Parkland.


Individuals watch armed officers investigate Evergreen Self-Storage from The Willows apartments Sunday, Nov. 29th near Parkland. (From right) Trudie Overby(cq), 44, and her mother Lee Stanley(cq), 61, both residents, said they were shocked and sad to hear about the shooting.


Norma Africa, who lives nearby the scene of the crime, watches fire trucks prepare for the procession that transported the bodies of four slain police officers Sunday, Nov. 29, 2009 near Parkland, Washington.


Beverly Elhare(cq) waits for the procession for the four slain police officers to begin on the corner of Steele St. S and 112 St. S. Sunday, Nov. 29, 2009 near Parkland


Fire fighters put up a large American flag for the procession for four Lakewood police officers Sunday, Nov. 29, 2009 near Parkland, Washington.


Merissa McCreary, 19, and her fiancée Matthew LaLonde, 19, wait for the procession to begin for four slain police officers to begin on the corner of Steele St. S and 112 St. S. Sunday, Nov. 29, 2009 near Parkland.


Fire fighters prepare to raise the flag for the procession for the four slain police officers Sunday, Nov. 29, 2009 near Parkland, Washington.


Central Pierce Fire and Rescue Captain A. Dulas(cq) salutes during the procession that transported the bodies of four slain police officers from where they were killed in Parkland, Washington to the Pierce County Medical Examiner's Office in Tacoma. The procession includes police, fire and medical examiner's vehicles.



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Gudrun Olsen(cq), 93, watches police activity from behind the gate of her home Monday, Nov. 30, 2009 in Seattle’s Leschi neighborhood. Officers continued to investigate a home on East Superior Street, a few houses away from Olsen, connected with the Maurice Clemmons manhunt.


An officer exits the home on 3804 E Superior Street connected with the Maurice Clemmons manhunt Monday, Nov. 30, 2009 in Seattle’s Leschi neighborhood.



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(On right) Deputy Paula Bates, with the King County Sheriff Department, visits the memorial outside the Lakewood Police Department Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2009.


Correction officer Champion, with the Fife Police, walks toward the memorial outside of the Lakewood Police Department after helping with the procession Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2009 that transported the four slain Lakewood Police Officers from the Pierce County Medical Examiner's Office to Mountain View Funeral Home.


(from left) Todd Roggenkamp and other members of the Mercer Island Police Department bring flowers to the Lakewood Police Department memorial to show their solidarity with the police community and their support for the slain officers.



The flag flies at half-staff Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2009 outside of the Lakewood Police Department. Father Tryphon, of Vashon Island, came to the memorial to show his support for those affected by the tragedy.



“This has impacted every police department in the country,” Father Tryphon said. “None of these people are going to feel like they can relax anymore.”


Jennifer Whetstine tears up while writing in one of four notebooks memorializing the four slain officers Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2009 outside of Forza Coffee, where the killings occurred last Sunday morning. Whetstine said she knew all four officers.



Individuals, including Monica Hart, (in front in white) pay their respects to the four slain officers Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2009 outside of Forza Coffee, where four officers were killed Sunday morning. Notebooks lay out for people to write down their thoughts and prayers.


From Bottom Left, going Clockwise: Ronald Owens, Mark Renninger, Tina Griswold, Greg Richards.


Jeff Burch, and his son Ben, pay their respects to the four slain officers Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2009 outside of Forza Coffee, where four officers were killed Sunday morning.