HUNT FOR THE WORLD’S MOST FAMOUS CRIMINAL
ON
November 29, 2009, four officers of the Lakewood Police Department in the U.S. state of Washington were shot and killed. The shooter, Maurice Clemmons, already had a long history of violence, jailtime, and mental instability – but was still somehow out on bail for child rape and assault. That morning, the four local cops – Sgt Mark Renninger, Officer Tina Griswold, Officer Ronald ‘Ronnie’ Owens and Officer Greg Richards – met in a coffee shop just outside the city. Clemmons walked in, walked up to a table where three of the officers were sitting and, without warning, shot Griswold and Renninger in the head. After a struggle, he shot Owens in the head as well. Richards, at the counter ordering coffee, shot Clemmons in the torso but he grabbed the pistol and shot Richards. All four officers died at the scene as Clemmons fled to a waiting truck. At that moment, the massive manhunt had begun... the right side of the head, instantly killing him.
The Glock apparently malfunctioned, giving Owens time to rush toward Clemmons and attempt to subdue him.
But Clemmons then managed to produce his second pistol, a .38 revolver. He shot Owens in the head, killing him.
Then Richards was taken out, too, before Clemmons fled the scene.
A massive manhunt began – the largest fugitive search in the state’s history.
Abandoned
Clemmons stayed on the move, going first to his half-brother’s house and then to the homes of various relatives.
Meanwhile, police were receiving tips from some of Clemmons’s relatives and friends.
Early next morning, December 1, Seattle police officer Benjamin Kelly was investigating a report of a stolen car.
He found the car running and apparently abandoned in a quiet residential street in South Seattle.
Kelly was calling dispatch when he saw a man in a hoodie walking toward him.
He became suspicious when he saw the man was not avoiding him but coming right at him.
Kelly jumped out of his patrol car and faced the man, who he had immediately recognised as Clemmons.
He shouted at him to show his hands, and Clemmons fumbled for a gun in his pocket.
But the trigger guard was stuck.
Kelly fired seven shots, running after Clemmons as he tried to run away.
Minutes later, Clemmons was found nearby, sprawled on a concrete path, hit by four bullets.
He died from his injuries shortly after.