Pierce Deputy Kills Carcjacking Suspect After Chase: Police

FREDERICKSON, WA - A 33-year-old Frederickson man - reportedly an active-duty member of the Air Force - was shot and killed by Pierce County deputies early Friday morning after a brief chase. Police responded to a residential neighborhood north of 192nd Street East around 5 a.m. on a report of a carjacking. The man who was killed was a resident there.

Deputies responded to the 18900 block of 23rd Avenue Court East around 5 a.m. The suspect had been running around the neighborhood apparently yelling and waving a gun. The suspect eventually stole a car from a neighbor at gunpoint, according to the Pierce County Sheriff's Office.

When the man saw deputies, he took off in the vehicle, eventually crashing into a utility box. The car burst into flames, and so deputies approached to try and rescue the man - but before they could, he emerged from the car firing a gun, police say. That's when police opened fire, killing the suspect.

Pierce County detectives are still trying to figure out what caused the incident.

Pierce County Sheriff's officers killed a man in Fife last month after a confrontation at a motel. Iin that case, the suspect apparently hit a deputy with his car as police tried to arrest him.

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