TACOMA, Wash. — Two Pierce County sheriff’s deputies were shot and wounded and a 40-year-old suspect was killed during a SWAT operation Tuesday near Spanaway, according to the sheriff’s department.
The deputies, who were involved in the SWAT operation, were shot in the 1900 block of Pacific Avenue South, Wendy Haddow, public information officer with the Tacoma Police Department, said during an afternoon news briefing.
She said an officer fatally shot a 40-year-old man, though she didn’t provide additional details about what happened in the lead-up to several shots being fired.
The two deputies were taken to St. Joseph’s Medical Center in Tacoma. Sheriff’s spokesman Sgt. Darren Moss told the News Tribune of Tacoma one deputy was undergoing surgery and expected to survive while the second was “gravely injured” and in critical condition.
The deputies have not been identified.
The shooting happened just before noon near 190th Street Court South and Pacific Avenue South. However, the SWAT operation began at 8:30 a.m., Haddow said. She had no additional details on the shooting.
The sheriff’s department immediately asked people to avoid the area.
Though Haddow didn’t provide any information about the nature of the SWAT operation or if it involved a place of business or residence, the News Tribune reported the shooting happened as a SWAT team moved to arrest an individual for investigation of felony assault.
The shootings are being investigated by the Pierce County Force Investigation Team.
The Bethel School District posted a notice to parents on its website that the ongoing police activity on Pacific Highway South could delay the busing of students local schools.
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