LAKEWOOD, Wash. - The owner of the Forza Coffee shop where four Lakewood Police Officers were shot and killed said Officer Greg Richards "shielded" the baristas and customers inside the coffee shop during Sunday's shooting.
Owner Brad Carpenter told KING 5 News, his two employees who were in the store at the time, told him Officer Richards wrestled with Maurice Clemmons and dragged him out of the coffee shop so no one else would be hurt.
Richards, Sgt. Mark Renninger and officers Tina Griswold and Ronald Owens were killed by Clemmons.
The 37-year-old Clemmons was shot and killed by a Seattle Police officer Tuesday morning.
Pierce County detectives have arrested a seventh person accused of helping Maurice Clemmons hide from police.
His sister, Latanya Clemmons, was arrested Friday afternoon after she attended an arraignment of two other women facing "rendering criminal assistance" charges.
Police had been looking to arrest the woman since earlier this week.
"I can't imagine why she would show up," said Pierce County Prosecutor Mark Lindquist, "I think we're seeing a level of stupidity and arrogance that's shocking."
In court today, prosecutors on Friday charged Clemmons' aunt, Letricia Nelson, with six counts of first-degree rendering criminal assistance, and one count of possession of a stolen firearm. vPierce County Prosecutor Mark Lindquist said the stolen firearm belonged to one of the slain officers.
Clemmons' friend, Quiana Williams, was charged with five counts of first-degree rendering criminal assistance. Both pleaded not guilty. Nelson is being held on $1.5 million bail; Williams' bail is $1 million.
Prosecutors say the women provided transportation, medical supplies and treatment to Clemmons after he killed the four officers.
Six friends and family members have been arrested, accused of helping Clemmons while he was on the run from police
Rickey Hinton, 47, pleaded not guilty Thursday at his arraignment to three counts of first-degree rendering criminal assistance. Pierce County Superior Court Judge Frederick Flemming ordered him held on $2 million bail.
Court documents accuse Hinton, Clemmons' half brother, of lying to police Sunday when they stopped him for questioning near the property owned by Clemmons where Hinton lived. Police say Hinton claimed he hadn't heard from Clemmons and didn't know where he was. He also denied any knowledge of the shooting, which happened in suburban Tacoma, court records said.
Darcus Allen, 38, pleaded not guilty and was ordered held without bail Wednesday after being charged with being a fugitive. Allen is accused of helping Clemmons flee the Parkland coffee house Sunday morning after he shot to death four Lakewood police officers.
Prosecutors warned they might charge Allen, who did time with Clemmons in an Arkansas prison, with the more serious offense of being an accomplice to aggravated first-degree murder. Such a charge could make him liable to the same penalties as the shooter -- life without release, or execution.
Arkansas Gov. Mike Beebe said Thursday he's willing to look at any recommended changes in how his state sends parolees to Washington state after Clemmons, an Arkansas parolee, shot the Lakewood officers.
Beebe told reporters he spoke with Washington Gov. Christine Gregoire and that he's confident Arkansas correction officials properly handled Clemmons' case after he was paroled.
At issue is a warrant that Arkansas officials issued for Clemmons. Arkansas corrections officials say the warrant should have been enough to keep Clemmons in jail on a charge in Pierce County, Wash. But Washington officials say it wasn't handled properly in Arkansas.
Gov. Gregoire called her discussion with Beebe productive.
"We both agreed that there is work to do together to protect the residents of Washington, Arkansas and the rest of the nation," she said.
Gregoire said she wants to explore ways to improve the 50-state pact that governs adult offender supervision across state lines.
"But right now my focus is on providing all of the support we can to the families and colleagues of the four fallen police officers," she said.
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