Slain Officer's Brother: "Just, Why?"

Brother of a Washington State police officer killed in a Sunday morning ambush speaks out about the killing

By VINCE LATTANZIO

Updated 5:17 AM EST, Tue, Dec 1, 2009

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Tears streamed down Mike Renninger's face as he recounted the heartbreaking reality of his brother's death.

His brother Mark, was one of four Lakewood, Wash. police officers shot and killed in an ambush-style attack at a coffee shop Sunday morning.

Mark Renninger, 39, was a Bethlehem, Pa. native who moved west after joining the Army. He later took up a career in law enforcement, most recently serving on the Lakewood Police force for the last five years.

“He was very strong-willed…very strong minded and would do anything for anybody…I just can’t make sense of it,” Mike said.

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Sergeant Mark Renninger in a family photo holding...

He had last seen his brother during a trip to Seattle four months ago, but never could have imagined it was the last time he'd see Mark alive.

“We went to a Mariner’s game…we went to Mt. Rainier…We had so much time with the families…He’s just such a loving dad and brother,” he said.

Authorities are still searching for an alleged shooting suspect Maurice Clemmons. They believe the 37-year old operated alone as he gunned down the officers while they catched up on paperwork at the coffee shop, but are unsure of his motive.

Clemmons was released from prison in 2000 after his 95-year long prison sentence was commuted by then Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee. Since the shooting, three solid leads to his whereabouts have turned up nothing.

Like the police, Mike and the Renninger family want to know why the suspect shot Mark in cold blood, with no apparent warning.

"I'm just so angry at how it happened...It's cowardly," Mike said. He says he would ask "Just, why?" the suspect took his brother away.

Mark Renninger leaves behind a wife, three children and six siblings.

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