Suspect in U.S. police murders dead

Tue Dec 1, 2009 9:42am EST

SEATTLE (Reuters) - A man accused of shooting to death four police officers in a Washington State coffee shop was shot and killed by police on Tuesday.

The suspect, Maurice Clemmons, was shot by a police officer in south Seattle, Pierce County Sheriff's Department said. It did not disclose additional details.

Clemmons was wanted in the Sunday morning shooting that killed four officers in a Tacoma, Washington-area, coffee shop. The officers were preparing for their day shift when they were shot.

A handgun belonging to one of the officers was found in Clemmons' possession, police said. A suspected getaway driver and three other people who may have helped Clemmons evade police for two days have also been arrested, police said.

Authorities have described the shootings at the Forza Coffee Shop as an ambush, but have not ascribed a motive. The attack occurred 40 miles southwest of Seattle.