Guest threatening to shoot people causes standoff at Tacoma motel

TACOMA, Wash. — A Tacoma motel was evacuated Monday morning after a man with a gun threatened to shoot people and any officers who tried to stop him, according to the Tacoma Police Department.

Guests at the Pacific Lodge in the 8800 block of Pacific Avenue called 911 just after 9 a.m. to report hearing a gunshot.

Moments later, an armed man walked out of a room and “was yelling and screaming about shooting people,” police spokeswoman Loretta Cool said.

The motel was evacuated, and nearby schools -- Fern Hill Elememtary, Faith Lutheran Elementary, Immanuel Preschool and Larchmont Elementary -- were placed on a precautionary lockdown and a negotiator was called in.

Tacoma PD SWAT officers worked to speak with the despondent man, who at times refused to answer.

The standoff ended more than two hours later when SWAT officers took the 25-year-old man into custody.

No one was hurt.

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