Man, Police Dog Killed After Tacoma Parking Lot Shooting

TACOMA, WA — A shooting in a Tacoma parking lot Wednesday evening sparked a chain of events that left one person and a K9 dog dead, and another man critically-injured after he was shot by police.

According to the Tacoma Police Department, just after 8 p.m. Wednesday a group started shooting at each other in the parking lot of a strip mall on S Yakima Avenue. It's still unclear what triggered the shooting or if everyone involved knew each other, but officers say the incident ended quickly, with the shooters piling into different vehicles and scattering from the crime scene before police arrived.

Shortly after, officers got a call that one person had been hit in the shooting and was nearby, injured inside their car at the intersection of S 54th and J Streets. When medics arrived, they declared the victim dead on scene.

Police began to investigate and follow leads until around 1:20 a.m. Thursday, when a Tacoma Police Officer saw one of the suspects linked to the shooting, driving a car in south Tacoma. Lakewood Police say the officer gave chase, leading to a short pursuit that ended when the suspect crashed their car and took off on foot.

To comb the area for the escaped suspect, officers called in a K9 unit. But when the K9 tracked the suspect to the 3600 block of South M Street, both police and the suspect opened fire.

Officers shot and critically injured the suspect, but the K9 police dog was also caught in the crossfire and critically injured. The K9's handler was also injured, though less severely.

Both the suspect and dog were taken to the hospital to be treated for their injuries, but the K9 died shortly after. The suspect remains hospitalized in critical condition. Police have since identified the deceased dog as the K9 Ronja. She was one of just three dogs in the Tacoma Police Department's K9 unit.

Following her death, the Tacoma Police Department issued a statement, reading in part:

"K9 Ronja’s death is heartbreaking for her handler and our department. K9s hold a very special place in our hearts – their loyalty, bravery, and dedication is inspiring. K9 Ronja sacrificed herself to save the life of her partner and her fellow officers.

Ronja was her given name in the Czech Republic and it means “bringing victory”. To us, Ronja will forever mean bringing valor. And for that we are eternally grateful."

As with all police shootings in Washington state, an independent law enforcement agency has been called in to investigate the use of force, in this case the Lakewood Police Department. Lakewood PD say they are currently investigating and will be releasing more information on this series of shootings as it comes to light.