Kent, WA – A Kent Police Department officer was fatally struck by another patrol car during the pursuit of a shooting suspect Sunday morning.

The incident happened at around 1:50 a.m. when officers received reports of shots fired at a Shari’s restaurant on W. Meeker St. and Russell Rd. S. according to KCPQ.

An officer was in the area at the time of the shooting and heard the shots as they were being fired.

That officer witnessed a red truck flee the scene, and a witness pointed the truck out as the suspect vehicle.

Officers attempted to stop the suspect vehicle, which fled from police.

An unidentified officer attempted to deploy spike strips near Reith Rd. and Kent Des Moines Rd. when he was fatally struck by a Kent PD vehicle involved in the pursuit.

Other officers continued to pursue the vehicle and another officer crashed into a vehicle and sustained critical injuries.

The suspect vehicle crashed on SR 167 and multiple people fled from the scene. One suspect was taken into custody.

The critically injured officer was taken to Harborview Medical Center where he remains in critical condition.

The unidentified deceased officer was an eight-year veteran of the department, according to Kent PD.

“Make no question about this, were it not for the actions of this suspect or suspects, this officer would be alive today. It’s directly because of the suspect or suspects’ actions that led to the officer’s death” Washington State Patrol Captain Ron Mead told the media.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the city of Kent and the families of the officers.

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