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Lakewood, Washington (CNN) -- One of four police officers who were fatally shot Sunday in a coffee shop outside Tacoma, Washington, may have shot the attacker before dying, police said.
Authorities are trying to determine who killed four Lakewood police officers in the coffee shop in neighboring Parkland on Sunday morning. Investigators are checking with area hospitals to determine whether the gunman sought medical treatment after the shooting, Pierce County sheriff's spokesman Ed Troyer said.
"There's ... evidence that a Lakewood officer fired some shots, and we hope he hit him," Troyer said.
Troyer said authorities are seeking Maurice Clemmons, 37, of Pierce County as part of their investigation, though he did not identify Clemens as a suspect.
"We believe he is intentionally avoiding us," Troyer said, identifying Clemmons as a "person of interest."
Clemmons has "extensive violent criminal history from Arkansas, including aggravated robbery and theft," the sheriff's department said in a statement. He also was recently charged in Pierce County for assaulting a police officer and the rape of a child, according to the statement.
The officers -- three men and a woman -- were sitting in the coffee shop before the start of their shifts when a gunman shot them at about 8 a.m. PT, Troyer said. The shop is a place where area law enforcement officers regularly gather to share information, he said.
The attacker walked to the counter as if to place an order before he pulled a gun out of his coat and fired, Troyer said. Two of the officers were "executed" as they sat at a table, another was shot when he stood up, and the fourth was shot after struggling with the gunman all the way out the door, Troyer said.
Shooting in Washington "After, we believe, some of the officers were shot, one of them managed to fight his way with the suspect ... all the way out the the doorway until he was shot and died of a gunshot wound."
Sunday's incident was the first time the Lakewood police department lost any officer to a shooting. Authorities have not released the officers' names.
Two employees of the coffee shop and other customers inside Forza Coffee Company were unharmed, Troyer said. One employee fled through the back door when she saw the shooter pull out his gun, he said.
"As you can imagine, they are traumatized," he said of those inside the coffee shop. "Some are in shock."
Investigators have not come up with possible motives, police said.
Families of the officers have been notified, Troyer said. All of the officers were in uniform, wearing vests and had marked patrol cars parked outside, he said.
Police are looking for one man in connection with the attack, though authorities are not ruling out the possibility that a second person was involved, Troyer said. A $10,000 reward was offered for information leading to an arrest, he said. Surveillance tapes from multiple location are being reviewed.
Authorities were conducting searches in numerous locations, and dogs had been brought in to attempt to track the suspect, Troyer said.
Some tips have come in, and investigators were following leads, one of which turned out to be "an unfortunate hoax," Troyer said. A Tacoma man called "multiple people" claiming to be the gunman, though authorities determined the man was lying.
The man was arrested and now faces obstruction charges, Troyer said.
A couple of blocks surrounding the coffee shop were cordoned off. Several other police agencies were on scene to assist.
Washington Gov. Christine Gregoire, in a statement, said she was "shocked and horrified" at the shootings.
"I offer whatever support is needed to the Pierce County Sheriff in their search for the perpetrator," Gregoire said.
Lakewood is about 40 miles south of Seattle and 10 miles southwest of Tacoma.
See a map of where the shootings took place
Bystanders gathered outside the Forza Coffee Company, some of them in tears as they spoke to CNN affiliate KING.
The coffee shop is on the edge of McChord Air Force Base. Spokesman Bud McKay said the base was not shut down, but security was ramped up around the perimeter as a precaution.
The military has offered assistance to police, he said, but it has not been requested.
Authorities are trying to determine who killed four Lakewood police officers in the coffee shop in neighboring Parkland on Sunday morning. Investigators are checking with area hospitals to determine whether the gunman sought medical treatment after the shooting, Pierce County sheriff's spokesman Ed Troyer said.
"There's ... evidence that a Lakewood officer fired some shots, and we hope he hit him," Troyer said.
Troyer said authorities are seeking Maurice Clemmons, 37, of Pierce County as part of their investigation, though he did not identify Clemens as a suspect.
"We believe he is intentionally avoiding us," Troyer said, identifying Clemmons as a "person of interest."
Clemmons has "extensive violent criminal history from Arkansas, including aggravated robbery and theft," the sheriff's department said in a statement. He also was recently charged in Pierce County for assaulting a police officer and the rape of a child, according to the statement.
The officers -- three men and a woman -- were sitting in the coffee shop before the start of their shifts when a gunman shot them at about 8 a.m. PT, Troyer said. The shop is a place where area law enforcement officers regularly gather to share information, he said.
The attacker walked to the counter as if to place an order before he pulled a gun out of his coat and fired, Troyer said. Two of the officers were "executed" as they sat at a table, another was shot when he stood up, and the fourth was shot after struggling with the gunman all the way out the door, Troyer said.
Shooting in Washington "After, we believe, some of the officers were shot, one of them managed to fight his way with the suspect ... all the way out the the doorway until he was shot and died of a gunshot wound."
Sunday's incident was the first time the Lakewood police department lost any officer to a shooting. Authorities have not released the officers' names.
Two employees of the coffee shop and other customers inside Forza Coffee Company were unharmed, Troyer said. One employee fled through the back door when she saw the shooter pull out his gun, he said.
"As you can imagine, they are traumatized," he said of those inside the coffee shop. "Some are in shock."
Investigators have not come up with possible motives, police said.
Families of the officers have been notified, Troyer said. All of the officers were in uniform, wearing vests and had marked patrol cars parked outside, he said.
Police are looking for one man in connection with the attack, though authorities are not ruling out the possibility that a second person was involved, Troyer said. A $10,000 reward was offered for information leading to an arrest, he said. Surveillance tapes from multiple location are being reviewed.
Authorities were conducting searches in numerous locations, and dogs had been brought in to attempt to track the suspect, Troyer said.
Some tips have come in, and investigators were following leads, one of which turned out to be "an unfortunate hoax," Troyer said. A Tacoma man called "multiple people" claiming to be the gunman, though authorities determined the man was lying.
The man was arrested and now faces obstruction charges, Troyer said.
A couple of blocks surrounding the coffee shop were cordoned off. Several other police agencies were on scene to assist.
Washington Gov. Christine Gregoire, in a statement, said she was "shocked and horrified" at the shootings.
"I offer whatever support is needed to the Pierce County Sheriff in their search for the perpetrator," Gregoire said.
Lakewood is about 40 miles south of Seattle and 10 miles southwest of Tacoma.
See a map of where the shootings took place
Bystanders gathered outside the Forza Coffee Company, some of them in tears as they spoke to CNN affiliate KING.
The coffee shop is on the edge of McChord Air Force Base. Spokesman Bud McKay said the base was not shut down, but security was ramped up around the perimeter as a precaution.
The military has offered assistance to police, he said, but it has not been requested.
