Thurston County Sheriff’s Office (TCSO) officers were called to deploy a SWAT team to investigate a shooting at a property just south of Yelm after a woman was found critically injured and a gunshot was heard.
Deputies were the first to respond to multiple 911 calls of an attack around 7:24 a.m. Sunday. Callers reported hearing screams and what sounded like gunshots.
When officers arrived, they discovered a woman in her mid-30s had been shot. According to TCSO, firefighters immediately began “life-saving measures” before transporting the woman to Harborview Medical Center.
According to TCSO, the woman was a resident of the residence in the 16900 block of 148th Avenue Southeast.
Detectives arrived on scene and interviewed several witnesses throughout the day. Then, during the investigation, another gunshot was heard, prompting SWAT to be called in to assist in the search of the building.
Sheriff Sanders of TCSO was on scene when the gunshot was heard and warned residents to avoid the area. He confirmed that Thurston County SWAT was briefed for deployment just after 1 p.m. and that TCSO was scanning the area with a drone at the time.
According to TCSO, SWAT personnel thoroughly searched the area, including structures, trailers and outbuildings, to ensure no one else was present. Officers believe the gunshot came from the surrounding area and may have been intended as a distraction while the suspect fled.
The investigation is ongoing and detectives are asking anyone who witnessed the incident or has information to contact them at detectives@co.thurston.wa.us.
