POSTED TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2009 — 7:58 A.M.

Maurice Clemmons, the subject of a manhunt related to the murders of four Lakewood police officers Sunday, was shot and killed after a confrontation by a police officer in the South Seattle area early this morning, according to the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department.

According to officials, one of the Lakewood officers’ guns was found on Clemmons. The Sheriff’s Department added that it has made several other arrests in the past 24 hours, including that of the suspected get-away driver, and three other people who aided and abetted Clemmons over the past two days.

Law enforcement officials say Clemmons, 37, entered Forza’s Coffee shop, located at 11401 Steele St. S. in Parkland, on the morning of Nov. 29 and shot the officers execution-style. A murder warrant was issued for Clemmons, who was charged with four counts of first-degree murder.

The four police officers killed include:

I. Sergeant Mark Renninger, age 39 with 13 years of law enforcement experience. He is survived by a wife and three children;

II. Officer Ronald Owen, age 37 with 12 years of law enforcement experience. He is survived by a former wife and a daughter;

III. Officer Tina Griswold, age 40 with 14 years of law enforcement experience. She is survived by her husband and two children;

IV. Officer Greg Richards, age 42 with 8 years of law enforcement experience. He is survived by a wife and three children.

The slain officers were all part of Lakewood’s initial police department start-up five years ago. All transferred to Lakewood as commissioned law enforcement officers from other jurisdictions.

Those interested in supporting the families of the slain officers are welcome to make a donation through the Lakewood Police Independent Guild (LPIG) Benevolent Fund at PO Box 99579, Lakewood, WA 98499. Please visit http://www.lpig.us for more information.

Updates on the investigation will be posted at http://columbia.co.pierce.wa.us/crisiscom/page5.htm .

For earlier Index coverage, click here — http://tacomadailyindex.com/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=88&cat=23&id=1671346&more=0