South Sound News

Woman shot, injured by police during Puyallup welfare check; husband found dead inside home

Scene where woman shot by police in Puyallup after firing at officers.

PUYALLUP, Wash. — Puyallup officers shot and injured a woman Monday night after a welfare check at a home led to the discovery of a man’s body.

Officers went to the Townhomes at Mountain View on Valley Avenue Northeast shortly after 6 p.m. after the parents of a man said they had not heard from their son since Sunday. They said he lived at the home with his wife and four children.

When officers arrived, the wife would not respond. Relatives at the scene said the woman claimed her husband was asleep upstairs, but as the investigation continued, officers became concerned for the husband and believed that the woman was armed with several guns.

Police removed all family members and children from the home, and a tactical response team made up of several agencies from eastern Pierce County came to the scene, along with several negotiators.

Investigators said the woman went into the backyard, and after a brief conversation with officers, she fired several shots toward them.

Officers fired back and the woman was struck.

The 34-year-old woman was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, Tacoma police officer Wendy Haddow said.

Officers then went inside the home and found the woman’s 31-year-old husband dead in a bedroom.

Puyallup police officers and Pierce County deputies remained at the scene Tuesday morning.

It is unknown what led up to the incident and the investigation remains ongoing.