Tacoma man killed in police shooting

TACOMA, Wash. - Tacoma Police officers were involved in a shooting that left a man dead on Tuesday afternoon. 

Police responded to the area of D Street and 96th Street in Tacoma around 3:10 p.m. for reports of an assault with a firearm. Shortly after Tacoma PD responded, a SWAT team was called in, according to Sgt. Darren Moss with the Pierce County Sheriff's Department. 

Around 4:38 p.m., Tacoma PD officers reported shots fired. 

No Tacoma Police officers were injured, but the suspect was pronounced dead at the scene. It was later learned that the suspect was firing at officers, who returned fire.

Neighbors told FOX 13 that they saw the man on the roof of his house, firing a gun. According to neighbors, this type of behavior has been ongoing. 

"Starting last week, I think it was Wednesday, he was out on his roof shooting his gun off," said neighbor Brian Roberge said. "Police were called that day, they didn't come. Saturday, it happened again."

He says police came and spoke with some neighbors and left. The issue persisted. Some neighbors reported hearing shots around 5 a.m. Monday. Roberge heard more rounds being fired around 2 p.m.  

Another neighbor, Ash White, says her roommate tried to talk the man down but things quickly escalated. 

"The guy ended up hitting or the head of the stick knocking him unconscious," White said. "He wrapped him one of his arms up and an extension cord started to strangle him with an extension cord and he was thankfully able to get away."

Neighbors told FOX 13 that the man put caution tape and barbed wire in the middle of the road around his property. 

"It's been a really crazy week and unfortunately it's not surprising that it ended like this," Roberge said. 

The Pierce County Force Investigation Team will be taking over the investigation. 

This is a developing story.

FOX 13 will have updates as they become available.