FEDERAL WAY, Wash. - Police shot and wounded a rape suspect Tuesday as he tried to flee from an apartment in Federal Way, where a woman and her two teenage daughters were attacked. Police believe the man may be the serial rapist responsible for other attacks in the south end, and they believe there are more victims that have not yet come forward.

KING

The suspect was shot and taken to an area hospital, where he was in satisfactory condition.

Spokeswoman Stacy Flores said a special response team took the suspect, Anthony C. Dias of Federal Way, into custody about 8 a.m. at an apartment building at the Heights at West Campus, 125 Southwest Campus Drive.

Police said the suspect had entered the apartment through an unlocked window at about 11:30 p.m. Monday night, wearing a ski mask and gloves. He tied up a 45-year-old woman and sexually assaulted her two daughters, 13 and 15. At 5:30 a.m., the man fell asleep and the victims were able to get loose and call for help.

Police surrounded the unit and when the suspect tried to escape by jumping off a second-floor balcony, shots were fired. The man's injuries were not life-threatening. He was in satisfactory condition at a local hospital.

The man is a suspect in at least four attacks since the summer in Tacoma, Fircrest and Federal Way. In three attacks, he carried a gun and wore a ski mask, dark clothing and black gloves. He demanded money from the victims, then raped them at gunpoint.

The assaults were unusual because the attacker stayed in the home for hours.

Police from several agencies were comparing information to determine if the suspect who was caught Tuesday is the same man responsible for a series of rapes.

At a press conference on Tuesday afternoon, King County Sheriff’s spokesman John Urquhart said police are “cautiously optimistic” that the suspect is indeed the man they have been looking for.

"We believe this is most likely the same suspect because of MO and because of physical description. But until there is forensic, scientific evidence that links him to one or more of these crimes we're not going to know for sure," said Urquhart.

KING

Dias lives in this Federal Way house.

Ed Troyer of the Pierce County Sheriff's Dept. said police believe there may be more victims out there who did not call the police because they were terrorized by the suspect.

"What those people need to know is that the probability is strong that the suspect is in custody and to go ahead and call us because we want to hear from them now. They can feel safe in calling the police," he said.

The Federal Way Police Department said the suspect is a black male, 26 years of age and is a resident of unincorporated King County near Federal Way.

Investigators located the suspect's vehicle at the apartment complex, along with the firearm, mask, cell phone and gloves used at the crime scene.

The suspect's prior criminal history includes: Felony Assault (2 degree) in September of 1991, Driving While License Suspended September of 1998, Forgery and Theft in February of 2000, Vehicular Assault in July of 2005.

The victim and her two teenage daughters were treated at a local hospital and support is being provided to them by the Victim Assistance Group. In addition, the Federal Way Police Department is working with the Federal Way School District to inform the parents and children living at or near the apartment complex.