PUYALLUP, Wash. – In this joyous time of the year, there is a veil of sadness in the community after another shooting involving law enforcement.
Two Pierce County sheriff's deputies were shot Monday night while responding to a domestic violence call. The suspect was shot and killed by one of the deputies.
It's the third time in less than two months that police officers have been shot in the line of duty in Western Washington. Residents just don't understand why.
"I think it's terrible. I don't know why someone would want to just kill somebody else, especially this time of year. It's wrong," said one woman shopping at Southcenter Mall.
"It's sad anyways, but I guess it's sadder during the holidays, too," said another.
The memory of four slain Lakewood police officers is fresh at the Forza Coffee Shop where they were killed Nov. 29. Now, two more officers gunned down is making it a blue Christmas in Lakewood.
"It's kind of like that morning starts all over again. You know the other families are grieving and going through the same thing," said Forza manager Courtney Marshall.
The crimes are on the minds of the Wilcoxsons of Lakewood.
"It's the biggest tragedy I think we've had in this area that I can remember. My folks and I moved here in 1952," said Russ Wilcoxson.
"We need better gun control. These people are coming out of jail and getting guns," said Emily Bledso of Olympia.
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