Authorities: Washington officer shot, taken to hospital

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Washington State Patrol Sgt. Keith Leary told reporters the officer was responding to the call just after 5:30 p.m. when a suspect began shooting from a house, hitting the officer. Leary said the victim from the initial call was grazed by a bullet and was taken to a local hospital for treatment. It wasn’t immediately known if the two shootings were connected, Leary said.

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The officer was conscious and alert when taken to the local hospital, Leary said. Officers don’t why the suspect fired at the officer. It is believed there is at least one hostage inside the home with the suspect, who Leary said is well known to police.

“He is a violent offender,” Leary told reporters.

He said the gunman was talking with some people but it wasn’t clear if he was speaking with negotiators or others.

The Mount Vernon neighbourhood was closed by police while officers and a SWAT team were attempting to negotiate.

Skagit Valley College said Thursday night that because of police activity the Mount Vernon campus was in lockdown and closed. The school tweeted “everyone get inside and stay inside.”

The shooting comes less than a month after a Tacoma police officer was killed responding to a domestic violence call. Officer Reginald “Jake” Gutierrez, 45, was fatally shot Nov. 30. The suspected gunman was killed by a sheriff’s marksman, ending an 11-hour standoff.

The Associated Press