TACOMA, WA — A typically routine Tuesday morning turned into a scene of disorder and emergency in Tacoma as authorities responded to a reported shooting outside Lincoln High School, triggering a flurry of law enforcement activity and culminating in a multi-vehicle crash involving a Tacoma Police sergeant. The chaotic chain of events unfolded on June 17, 2025, drawing the attention of emergency services, local media, and concerned community members alike.

The initial call, reportedly received via police scanner traffic, indicated a possible shooting near the campus of Lincoln High School. According to preliminary accounts, a witness suggested that the suspected shooter might be a student. This alarming detail immediately raised the level of concern for law enforcement, school administrators, and parents alike, especially given the national anxiety surrounding school-related violence.

The witness further indicated that the victim could be found near Buddy’s, a local business in close proximity to the school. This location quickly became a central point of activity for first responders. The alleged shooter was described as a Black male dressed in gray Nike clothing—a detail that would prove crucial for officers attempting to identify and locate the suspect amid the confusion.

As police units raced to the scene, a dramatic development occurred. A police sergeant responding to the emergency call was involved in a serious three-vehicle crash at the intersection of 38th Street. Reports from the scene indicate that the sergeant’s patrol vehicle was T-boned in the collision, underscoring the inherent risks law enforcement face while responding to rapidly developing and dangerous situations. Emergency medical services were quickly dispatched to the scene of the accident, providing immediate care to the injured sergeant, although the exact nature and severity of the injuries sustained have not yet been disclosed.

Simultaneously, fire crews were urgently requested at the area near Buddy’s to assist with the reported shooting victim. The confluence of incidents—a suspected shooting involving a possible student, a serious traffic accident involving a first responder, and an active search for a potentially armed individual—created a rapidly escalating emergency that drew on multiple city resources.

According to ongoing updates, law enforcement officials launched an extensive search for the suspect. One of the more significant developments included the deployment of K9 units to aid in the manhunt. The use of K9 teams is often a strong indicator of the seriousness with which authorities are pursuing a suspect, especially when the individual may still be armed or present a threat to public safety.

Additional reports from the field indicated that security personnel in the vicinity had witnessed the shooting and were able to positively identify the suspect. This firsthand identification significantly bolsters the investigation, offering law enforcement a credible eyewitness account to build their case. Meanwhile, a separate officer reported having visual contact with someone matching the suspect’s description—a Black male wearing gray Nike attire—walking westbound toward a nearby park. This observation prompted officers to shift their search perimeter westward, hoping to apprehend the suspect before he could further evade capture or cause harm.

Despite the urgency and visibility of the law enforcement response, as of the most recent updates, Tacoma Police have not confirmed whether any arrests had been made. Nor have they provided specific information about the condition of the shooting victim or clarified whether any additional people may have been harmed in the incident.

The lack of definitive information underscores the fluidity of the investigation. It is not uncommon in the immediate aftermath of such events for authorities to withhold certain details while verifying facts, contacting families, and ensuring that public disclosures do not compromise ongoing investigative efforts.

Residents and community members have been strongly urged to avoid the area as the situation remains active. With police attempting to secure multiple sites—the scene of the shooting near Buddy’s, the crash site at 38th Street, and a potentially shifting search area—law enforcement needs space and public cooperation to effectively manage the emergency.

As the story develops, many in the community are grappling with the implications of the incident. The possibility of a student being involved in a violent crime outside a high school touches on broader concerns about youth violence, gun access, and school security. The Tacoma Police Department, already stretched thin by the incident’s multiple components, will likely face additional scrutiny in the days ahead as they continue their investigation and begin to release more details.

The broader context of school shootings and violent incidents in or around educational institutions has created an environment in which any report of gunfire near a school triggers heightened anxiety and rapid response. Lincoln High School, like many others across the nation, likely has safety protocols in place—but the unfolding nature of this event illustrates how even well-prepared systems can be tested by the unpredictable nature of gun violence.

The deployment of K9 units, the firsthand identification of the suspect by security personnel, and the serious injury to a police sergeant all contribute to the high-profile nature of this case. These factors suggest that both the Tacoma Police Department and potentially other agencies will be dedicating considerable resources to ensuring that the suspect is apprehended and the community is once again secured.

For now, Tacoma waits for clarity—on the suspect’s identity and motive, on the condition of the victims, and on what this latest incident says about safety in and around the city’s schools. Further updates will be released by the Tacoma Police Department as their investigation progresses.