Maurice Clemmons, 37, was shot and killed by Seattle police early Tuesday morning after a two-day, two-city manhunt.
Clemmons, was the primary suspect in the murders of Lakewood, Washington police Sgt. Mark Renninger, 39, and Officers Ronald Owens, 37, Tina Griswold, 40, and Greg Richards, 42.
According to The Seattle Times, an armed Clemmons was "standing outside in the 4400 block of South Kenyon Street when he was confronted by officers." He allegedly ignored warnings from police and was subsequently shot at approximately 2:40 a.m. in the Rainier Valley neighborhood.
Police spokesman Ed Troyer stated that Clemmons was armed with a gun "taken from one of the four Lakewood officers."
"Everything indicates that this is the person we've been looking for," Seattle Police Assistant Chief Jim Pugel declared during a news conference at the scene.
Pugel added that the sequence of events leading up to the shooting of Clemmons was that a Seattle patrolman noticed an empty vehicle that had been reported stolen. While eying the vehicle, the patrolman noticed someone behind him. He recognized the man to be Clemmons.
According to the patrolman, Clemmons ignored his command to stop and show his hands. Clemmons then took off and attempted to run away. The patrolman fired numerous shots. Clemmons was pronounced dead at the scene.
Several people, including Clemmons's sister (whose name was not released) who allegedly aided and abetted the suspect after the murders Sunday morning. Clemmons's sister is currently being held for questioning. Others are expected to be arrested.
According to The Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Troyer said his "agency had arrested three persons for rendering criminal assistance to Clemmons and had taken a getaway driver into custody. He said he expected six or seven persons to be in custody by the end of Tuesday."
Corey Mitchell is a critically acclaimed Los Angeles Times best-selling author of several true crime books including Dead and Buried, Pure Murder and Hollywood Death Scenes. He is also the founder of the premiere true crime website, In Cold Blog, executive producer for a new true crime television series, and a former Hollywood crime expert and blogger for the Discovery Channel. He can be reached at truecrimewriter@aol.com.
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Comments
Omg, what an end to this story. At least they got the guy. Great article, Corey.
They should shoot anyone who helped him evade justice too.
Thanks, Star.
awful use of english
Several people, including Clemmons's sister (whose name was not released) who allegedly aided and abetted the suspect after the murders Sunday morning. huh?
Been following the story here...and was there ever a doubt how this one would end?
Great article, Corey! Ignore the Nazi grammar police. He obviously has nothing better to do than to criticize.
I'm with Chris. No surprise how this one turned out.
This is the mundane regimen for “cop killers” right? On CNN.com I saw spokesmen, from the Peirce County Sheriffs Department, state often that Clemmons was not a “suspect”, yet a “person of interest” who they merely wanted in custody for questioning… riiiight. Great article.
im glad that he died, i wanna b a copp! WOOHOOO
I feel for the families of the slain officers.
However I find it interesting that if one of my relatives is slain, there is about as much chance of the police finding the killer as there is them pulling me over the next day for speeding.
IF they do catch him, he is arrested.
IF he is arrested, they MIGHT decide they have enough evidence to prosecute.
IF they decide to prosecute, he MIGHT be convicted.
IF he is convicted, he MIGHT spend the rest of his life in prison.
If a cop is killed however, the killer is dead within 48 hours.
Now that is a somewhat lopsided application of justice.
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