Man Found Dead After Attacking Immigration Jail

Four officers opened fire on a man tossing incendiary devices
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Jul 13, 2019 4:15 PM CDT
Police: Man Dies After Attacking Immigration Prison
This July 10, 2018 file photo shows a sign that reads "Families Belong Together" on a fence outside the Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma, Wash.   (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File)

A man armed with a rifle threw incendiary devices at an immigration jail in Washington state early Saturday morning, then was found dead after four police officers arrived and opened fire, authorities said. The Tacoma Police Department said the officers responded at about 4am to the privately run Tacoma Northwest Detention Center, a US Department of Homeland Security detention facility that holds migrants pending deportation proceedings, the AP reports. The detention center has also held immigration-seeking parents separated from their children under President Trump's "zero tolerance" policy, an effort meant to deter illegal immigration. The shooting took place about six hours after a peaceful rally in front of the detention center, police spokesman Loretta Cool said.

She said another rally was planned for later Saturday, but it would have to be held in a different area because of the investigation into the police shooting. Police said the man caused a vehicle to catch fire and that he attempted to ignite a large propane tank and set buildings on fire. Police said that besides the rifle, he had a satchel and flares. Police said officers called out to the man, and shots were fired. Cool said all four officers fired their weapons, but she didn't have specific details of what took place. She said the officers weren't wearing body cameras, but the area is covered by surveillance cameras from the detention center. She said she didn't know if the man fired at the officers. The man's name hasn't been released.

(More detention facility stories.)

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