BUCKLEY, Wash. — A man is dead after he reportedly shot and killed his girlfriend in Buckley, according to the Pierce County Force Investigation Team.
Just after midnight Sunday, Buckley Police Department received a call reporting that a woman was shot and killed by her boyfriend at a residence in the 300 block of Montezuma Drive in Carbonado. The boyfriend then fled the scene.
Pierce County deputies spotted the suspect in his car, driving at a high rate of speed, but were unable to pursue the vehicle since Buckley officers had not yet arrived at the residence to develop probable cause. The deputies were able to slow the suspect vehicle to a speed that they could follow him without pursuing after deploying spike strips.
Buckley PD officers arrived at the scene around 12:20 a.m. and found the 23-year-old woman dead with what appeared to be a gunshot wound to the head. After talking with family members at the scene, officers confirmed the suspect’s identity and notified Pierce County deputies that they had probable cause for the man driving the vehicle. Deputies then initiated a traffic stop and were able to get the suspect vehicle off the road.
Just a few minutes later, deputies reported that shots were fired. As deputies were unable to get a response from the suspect in his vehicle, a SWAT team was called to the scene. The team confirmed that the suspect had died. No deputies were injured.
Mundy Loss Road East was shut down between Highway 410 and 96th Street East while officers responded to the scene.
The Pierce County Force Investigation Team said its investigation showed the man died after shooting himself.
The Pierce County Medical Examiner’s office said only one gunshot wound to the head was found with no other injuries that would have been caused by the deputies involved.
Investigators found a gun, a single fired shell casing and damage from the bullet inside the vehicle.
There was also video footage that supports the determination of suicide.