Gregory James Richards

Lakewood Police Department — Lakewood, WA

Felonious

End of Watch November 29, 2009

Age 42

Tour of Duty 8 yrs

The Vigil Panel 158 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 3

Incident

Police Officer Greg Richards, Sergeant Mark Renninger, Police Officer Tina DeLong-Griswold, and Police Officer Ronald Owens were shot and killed in an ambush attack while sitting inside a coffee shop in Parkland.

All four officers had just finished a call and went to the coffee shop to complete paperwork. Sergeant Renninger, Officer Owens, and Officer DeLong-Griswold were seated at a table, and Officer Richards was in line waiting to order coffee. The suspect entered the shop, walked directly over to the table where the three officers were sitting, drew a 9 mm handgun, and shot Officer DeLong-Griswold, killing her. The suspect then shot Sergeant Renninger, killing him.

After shooting the two officers, the suspect’s weapon jammed, and he became involved in a physical fight with Officer Owens. During the struggle, the suspect drew a second weapon, a .38 caliber revolver, and shot and killed Officer Owens. Officer Richards, hearing the shots, moved toward the suspect and became involved in a physical fight with him. Officer Richards was able to shoot the suspect once in the torso before the suspect was able to gain control of his weapon. The suspect then shot Officer Richards, killing him.

The suspect fled the location, prompting a two-day manhunt. He was shot and killed by a Seattle police officer after the officer observed him near a stolen car. The officer attempted to take the suspect into custody, but the suspect refused to follow commands and attempted to flee, prompting the officer to fatally shoot him.

Officer Richards had served with the Lakewood Police Department for five years and had a total of eight years of law enforcement service.

Survivors

Survivors include his wife and three children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-WA-834BB3A5
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: August 2, 2026
Last updated: August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer Richards gave the Lakewood Police Department 8 years.
Thank you for your service to the Lakewood community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Richards.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department Lakewood Police Department

Type Other

Location Lakewood, Pierce County, WA

Platform Identity lpd.pierce.wa.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch November 29, 2009

Tour of Duty 8 yrs

Age 42

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Officer's handgun

Police Officer Gregory James Richards is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.

In WA, 187 of 340 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 55% of this state's fallen. That is 55 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Lakewood Police Department, 4 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Lakewood Police Department

of 4 officers

100% Felonious

WA — Statewide

187

of 340 officers

55% Felonious

Nationwide

of 97,772 officers

0% Felonious