Police murder suspect shot after two-day manhunt

THE man suspected of gunning down four police officers in a suburban coffee shop was shot and killed by a lone patrolman investigating a stolen car early yesterday. Four people were arrested for allegedly helping the suspect elude authorities during a massive two-day manhunt.

Maurice Clemmons was carrying a handgun he took from one of the dead officers when a Seattle policeman recognised him near a stolen car in a south Seattle neighbourhood about 2.45am, Assistant Police Chief Jim Pugel said.

The officer ordered Clemmons to show his hands and stop.

“He wouldn’t stop,” Pugel said. “The officer fired several rounds, took the person into custody.”

Clemmons had a serious gunshot wound from one of the four officers killed in the coffee-shop shooting.

Police planned to arrest more people who helped Clemmons.

“We expect to have maybe six or seven people in custody,” said Ed Troyer, a spokesman for the Pierce County sheriff. “Some are friends, some are acquaintances, some are partners in crime, some are relatives. Now they’re all partners in crime.”

On Monday, officers detained a sister of Clemmons who they think treated the suspect’s gunshot wound.

“We believe she drove him up to Seattle and bandaged him up,” Troyer said.

Authorities say Clemmons, 37, singled out the Lakewood officers and spared employees and customers at the coffee shop on Sunday in Parkland, about 55 kilometres south of Seattle.

The killed were Sgt Mark Renninger, 39, and Officers Ronald Owens, 37, Tina Griswold, 40, and Greg Richards, 42.

A couple of dozen police officers milled around at the scene where Clemmons apparently was shot, shaking hands and patting each other on the back yesterday morning.