CNN
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[Breaking news update, published at 8:10 p.m. ET]
The suspect in the fatal nighttime shooting in Yakima, Wash., died after taking his own life, the Yakima police chief said.
“The suspect apparently shot himself and that was before the police arrived. There were officers who heard the gunshots, but no one saw him do this,” Police Chief Matt Murray said.
Authorities tried to save his life, but he was later pronounced dead, according to Murray. The chief had indicated earlier that the suspect had been taken into custody.
Murray said officials will have to go through the formal process of identifying the suspect, but they believe he was involved in the shooting that killed three people.
[Original story, published at 7:47 p.m. ET]
A suspect was taken into custody Tuesday in connection with an overnight shooting that left three dead in Washington state, Yakima Police Chief Matt Murray said in a Facebook video.
Murray said officers responded to a phone call from a family member of the alleged shooter who said they could find him behind some warehouses.
Gunshots were heard when police arrived and a man was injured, but no officers fired at the suspect and no officers were injured, according to Murray, who said more information would be forthcoming. released later Tuesday.
The police department previously identified the “alleged homicide suspect” as Jarid Haddock, 21, a Yakima County resident, according to a Facebook post.
Road closures in the area Tuesday morning were “linked to early morning homicides”, a police spokesman said.
SWAT was responding and authorities had drones over the area.
Tabitha Johnson, an employee of a nearby business, told CNN the area was locked down and police surrounded a house near the intersection of University Parkway and West Birchfield Road. Johnson said authorities had been there since before 9 a.m. local time.
The area police have cordoned off is about two miles east of where shots were fired earlier this morning.
Murray told CNN on Tuesday that the suspect entered the ARCO/ampm gas station and “attempted to enter the lobby,” but discovered the doors were locked.
“He then walked across the street to Circle K,” Murray said. “As he walks into the store he pulls out his gun and there are two people getting food and he shoots them.” Both people died, Murray said.
The suspect then exited the store and shot another person, who also died.
Murray said the suspect walked back across the street to the ARCO/ampm gas station, shot into a car and drove off.
Police have not said who owns the car, but believe it may be the suspect.
Justin Bumbalogh, who worked at Elite Towing and Recovery, said he was half asleep when he heard gunshots. Police say the shooting happened around 3:30 a.m. local time.
Bumbalogh said he heard about nine shots and recalled a distinct gap between the two sets of shots.
Police responded shortly after the shots were fired, he said.
“It seems like a random situation,” Murray said. “There was no apparent conflict between the parties – the man just walked in and started shooting.”
FBI Seattle Field Office Steve Bernd told CNN they are aware of the incident and are in contact with Yakima police in case they seek assistance.
