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US police killer suspect 'shot' US police killer suspect at large
(about 1 hour later)
Police in Seattle say a gunman who killed four officers in a cafe in Washington State was himself shot during the attack and may be dead. Police say a suspect in the killings of four officers in Washington State was not in a house which they had laid siege to for several hours.
Police hunting the killer have laid siege to the Seattle home of a man named as Maurice Clemmons. Officers had surrounded the premises in Seattle and called on Maurice Clemmons to come out.
Officers used a loud-hailer to call on Mr Clemmons to come out, but police later said he was not in the house, AP news agency reported. Shots and explosions were heard at the house, before police confirmed that Mr Clemmons was not there.
Mr Clemmons, 37, has not been named as a formal suspect. Earlier, detectives said the killer had himself been shot during the attack in a cafe on Sunday and may be dead.
Pierce County sheriff's spokesman Ed Troyer said the search for Mr Clemmons was continuing and he could still be in the neighbourhood.
He said people who knew Mr Clemmons had told police he had been shot in the torso.
"If he didn't get a ride out of there, he could still be in the area," Mr Troyer said.
The four police officers - Sgt Mark Renninger and officers Ronald Owens, Tina Griswold and Greg Richards - were shot dead at the cafe in Parkland, 40 miles (65km) south of Seattle on Sunday morning.The four police officers - Sgt Mark Renninger and officers Ronald Owens, Tina Griswold and Greg Richards - were shot dead at the cafe in Parkland, 40 miles (65km) south of Seattle on Sunday morning.
The killer fled but on Monday authorities said he had been wounded by one of his victims.
Acting on a tip-off, officers sealed off part of the Leschi area of the city, while armed Swat team members ringed the property.
Ed Troyer, a spokesman for the Pierce County Sheriff, later told reporters that Mr Clemmons had been shot by police.
"He may be deceased from his gunshot wound," Mr Troyer told the Associated Press news agency.
Police called on Mr Clemmons to leave the house but there was initially no confirmation that he was inside.
This is one of the toughest decisions you'll make in your life but you need to man up Police negotiator speaking to suspect at siege house
Jeff Kappel of the Seattle Police Department told local people to stay in their homes with the doors locked.
"Just allow us to get this subject identified and verify his identity and go from there," he said.
They shone lights on the house and called out to Mr Clemmons by name.
"Mr Clemmons, I'd like to get you out of there safely," a negotiator said through a loud-hailer.
"I can tell you this, we are not going away."
According to an Associated Press photographer, no response was audible from inside the house.
'Deliberate'
Shortly afterwards, police began using sirens outside the house and several loud bangs rang out before the negotiator resumed speaking.
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Ed Troyer, Pierce County Sheriff's department: "We did find a tracking device that was cut off his ankle"Ed Troyer, Pierce County Sheriff's department: "We did find a tracking device that was cut off his ankle"
"This is one of the toughest decisions you'll make in your life but you need to man up," the negotiator said. The killer fled but on Monday authorities said he had been wounded by one of his victims.
Minutes later, more bangs were followed by the sound of breaking glass and then a louder explosion. "We don't know if he's still alive," Mr Troyer told CBS television.
Later still, gunshots rang out in the darkness. AP reports that the gunfire was deliberate and widely spaced, appearing to be aimed at the house by surrounding police. "If he isn't, it's because he succumbed to the wound he received yesterday when he was in the struggle with the police officer that managed to get a shot fired at him before he was killed."
A helicopter was circling above the area. Acting on a tip-off, officers sealed off part of the Leschi area of Seattle, while armed Swat team members ringed the property.
Police then confirmed that Mr Clemmons had been shot. Local residents were told to stay in their homes with their doors locked.
Investigators said the four officers had been working on their laptops in the coffee shop when at least one gunman entered. Police shone strong lights on the house and a negotiator called out to Mr Clemmons.
Mr Troyer said police would be "surprised if there is a motive worth mentioning", behind the attack, but that the gunman had been "well versed" with the weapon. As the siege continued through the night, witnesses heard loud bangs, breaking glass, explosions and shots.
"This wasn't something where the windows were shot up and there were bullets sprayed around the place. The bullets hit their targets," he said. But it was later revealed that Mr Clemmons was not in the house.
Other people in the cafe at the time were not injured. US media said Mr Clemmons has a long criminal history including a recent arrest for allegedly assaulting a police officer in Washington state.
Melanie Burwell, the sister-in-law of Mr Richards, 42, said he "didn't have a mean bone in his body". Investigators said the four officers had been working on their laptops when the attack happened.
"If there were more people in the world like Greg, things like this wouldn't happen," she told reporters. Mr Troyer said police would be "surprised if there is a motive worth mentioning" but that the gunman had been "well versed" with the weapon used in the attack.
No-one else in the cafe was injured.
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