PARKLAND, Wash. — The suspect who caused an hours-long standoff with Tacoma Police Department officers was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound in a home, the Pierce County Sheriff's Department (PCSD) said.
Deputies said the S.W.A.T. unit found the suspect using a drone. A dog was also found unharmed inside the home.
Two people were shot at a house in the Parkland area while Tacoma police officers were investigating a suspected stolen vehicle earlier in the day.
Per PCSD, the shootings occurred at a residence on Croft Street South. A man and a woman were shot inside a home and were transported to a local hospital. The man and woman exited the home where the standoff later took place, and the 39-year-old male victim is in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) with life-threatening injuries, PCSD said.
"She told me what happened so I had come down here," said Theresa Apo, whose nephew was one of the shooting victims. "I just pray he's okay."
Apo was on her way to comfort the victim's mother who had tended to her son's injuries following the shooting.
"I just don't understand why people hurt people like that," said Apo, with tears in her eyes.
According to Sgt. Darren Moss with the PCSD, the suspect used to live at the home. He showed up in the morning and started an argument before shooting the two victims. The suspect and victims did know each other.
Moss said the shooting suspect was also the suspect in the stolen vehicle case.
After the two victims were transported to the hospital, PCSD said a suspect fired at least two shots at deputies who were on scene attempting to speak with someone in the house.
PCSD said none of the responding officers or deputies fired any shots at the suspect.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
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