Bethlehem Native Killed in Ambush

Sergeant Mark Renninger was raised in Bethlehem

By DANIELLE JOHNSON

Updated 12:07 PM EST, Mon, Nov 30, 2009

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One of four Lakewood police officers shot and killed in an ambush at a coffee shop in Parkland, Washington Sunday morning was from the Lehigh Valley area, according to family members.

Sergeant Mark Renninger, 39, was a 13-year law enforcement veteran and spent five years with Lakewood Police Department. He was born and raised in Bethlehem and went to Washington State because of his military service, according to his brother Michael Renninger.

He was "a professional, dedicated police officer who made the ultimate sacrifice," Renninger's brother said in a statement to WFMZ. "More importantly, he was a loving and devoted father, husband and family member who will be missed by many."

Lakewood Police Chief Bret Farrar publicy identified the other three officers as -- Officer Ronald Owen, 37, Officer Tina Griswold, 40, and Officer Greg Richards, 42.

Police believe Maurice Clemmons is wounded and...

Four Lakewood officers were shot and killed after...

"This is a very difficult time for our families and our officers," Chief Farrar said in a statement. The officers were inside the coffee shop, using their laptops to get ready for work, when the gunman surprised them.

"Two of them were just flat executed, sitting writing reports," Ed Troyer with the Pierce County Sheriff's Office said. "One of them stood up and tried to go for the suspect and got shot. Then the fourth one fought his way out to the parking lota nd fired off some rounds."

Monday morning, Seattle police said the suspect, Maurice Clemmons --a man who got of jail six days ago--, was not holed up in his home in Seattle as previously believed. After an overnight standoff, police searched the home but found no sign of him. Police said Clemmons may either be wounded or dead.

Friends of Sgt. Renninger set up a Facebook page to honor his life.

It's the second police involved tragedy for the Renninger family in the past few years. In 2005, brother Matt Renninger, an Easton police officer, accidentally shot and killed a fellow officer at police headquarters.

Sergeant Mark Renninger is survived by his wife, two daughters and a son.