Police said the officer was working security at the Walmart at 1965 S. Union Ave. when the incident happened around 8:15 p.m.
A man suspected in a drive-by shooting outside a Tacoma Walmart and an earlier armed robbery and shooting in Kent died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound Wednesday after an hourslong SWAT standoff at a Kent home, according to police.
Kent police identified the suspect as a 20-year-old Kent man. His name has not been released.
According to the Kent Police Department, detectives were trying to arrest the man in connection with an armed robbery and shooting that happened in Kent on April 24. Investigators also believed he was involved in Tuesday night's drive-by shooting outside the Walmart at 1965 S. Union Ave. in Tacoma.
Tacoma police said an off-duty Tacoma officer working security at the store tried to arrest a suspected shoplifter around 8:15 p.m. Tuesday when people inside a black sedan opened fire before driving away. No one was injured, even though the parking lot was full of shoppers. The suspected shoplifter was taken into custody, but investigators have not determined whether that person was connected to the people in the car.
A Tacoma police spokesperson said detectives quickly developed probable cause to arrest the suspected shooter. As Tacoma detectives investigated overnight, they coordinated with Kent detectives and realized both departments were searching for the same man.
Kent detectives found the suspect Wednesday at a home in the 13900 block of S. 259th Place. Patrol officers surrounded the home while crisis negotiators worked to convince him to surrender.
Police said negotiators reached the suspect by phone and persuaded him and two family members to come outside. But as they exited, the suspect suddenly turned around, ran back inside and locked the door.
Negotiators tried several more times to contact him but got no response, police said. After the family members were safely moved away, officers heard what they believed was a single gunshot from inside the home.
Because the suspect was wanted in connection with two shootings and an armed robbery, the Valley SWAT Team was called in. After getting an arrest warrant and making several more unsuccessful attempts to contact him, SWAT officers forced their way inside and sent in a drone.
The drone found the suspect unconscious in a bedroom. SWAT officers then entered the home and found him with what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Officers immediately began lifesaving efforts, but King County Medic One pronounced the suspect dead at the scene, according to Kent police.
Tacoma detectives also responded to the home and recovered the black sedan believed to have been used in Tuesday night's shooting, police said.
The investigation remains active. Tacoma police said multiple people were inside the vehicle during the Walmart shooting, and detectives are still working to identify and find them.
Kent detectives are continuing to investigate the incident. The King County Medical Examiner's Office will determine the official cause and manner of death.
Our officers, detectives, negotiators and the Valley SWAT Team approached this incident with one goal — to safely take a dangerous suspect into custody peacefully," Kent Police Chief Rafael Padilla said in a statement. "While today's incident did not end as anyone had hoped, I am grateful that no other people were physically harmed.
