LAKEWOOD, Wash. — A soldier from Joint Base Lewis-McChord has surrendered in connection with a shooting that left one man critically injured Thursday, police said.
Lakewood police took 22-year-old Jesse Suhanec into custody Thursday evening without incident after he reportedly knocked on the door to a house in the Tillicum area of Lakewood and told the residents he was wanted by police.
The residents let him inside their house and called 911. Suhanec told them he had been hiding and was cooperative with police, according to Lt. Chris Lawler. A weapon also was recovered.
Police say the shooting occurred just after 10 a.m. on Thursday in the area of Grant Avenue Southwest near the base. Police then got a call about a man collapsed in his vehicle with gunshot wounds in the parking lot of a restaurant a few blocks away. The victim is reportedly in critical condition but is expected to survive.
Lakewood police, along with other agencies and a SWAT team, searched for the shooter for five hours. A nearby elementary school was placed on lockdown during the search.
Authorities were looking for Suhanec, who they said is a person of interest in the case.
He was reportedly missing from the base, and a government van that had been checked out by him was abandoned at the shooting scene.
Police say the suspect unsuccessfully tried to steal two cars at gunpoint.
A reverse 911 message was sent to area residents informing them of the shooting and asking them to call 911 if they see the suspect or signs of a break-in at their home.
Detectives will continue to investigate and search the home where they found Suhanec.
