Suspect dead in Spanaway standoff

SPANAWAY, Wash. — A suspect who fired shots at deputies from his second-story window is dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound after a tense standoff overnight in Spanaway.

The Pierce County Sheriff's Office said deputies went to check on a report of drug activity at a home on 161^st Street South near Pacific Avenue South sometime after 11 p.m.

When deputies approached the home to speak with the resident, he refused to come to the door and went up to a second story room where he fired shots from a window.

The deputies were not struck by the gunfire, but immediately called for backup and set up a command post in a nearby Safeway parking lot.

KIRO 7 crews counted 18 deputy vehicles along with three fire rescue crews in the area. Residents nearby had to be evacuated.

Travis Snow was one of those residents. He said deputies ushered residents across the street to be safe.

"About 11:30, officer came to the door and asked us to leave, asked us to come across the street so we'd be safe, wouldn't tell us what was going on - just told us it'd be smart to go across the street," said Snow.

Officers tossed tear gas inside the home in attempts to get the man to come out. By 3:30 a.m., deputies were able to get inside the home, where they found the suspect dead.

There were no other people inside the home.

KIRO