Roll of Honor
Incident
Officer Lowry was shot and killed after the Tacoma SWAT Team responded to a domestic violence case in which the suspect was holding two children in the house. The suspect had been let go by another department earlier in the day after being confronted by officers because he had shot the illegally modified SKS in which he used later in the day. The guns were not confiscated by the other department. He then drove to his wife's home where the incident took place. While the Tacoma SWAT Team surrounded the house the suspect exited it and after a brief verbal confrontation he was shot with an Arwen (a non-lethal weapon) and fell into his doorway. Upon falling the four SWAT officers who were talking with him rushed him to cuff him. The suspect crawled into his house and picked up his weapon at which time he turned and opened fire from a kneeling position. Officer Lowry was struck once in the chest with the bullet penetrating his vest. The bullet then exited his body and struck another officer. Officer Lowry was extricated and pronounced dead at the hospital. The suspect was struck once and will be paralyzed from the chest down. He gave up and was taken into custody approximately four hours later. The suspect was found guilty of first-degree murder on March 11, 1999, and sentenced to life without the possibility of parole. Officer Lowry had served with the Tacoma Police Department for 18 years.
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- Permanent identifier
BO-US-WA-C5949292- Stewardship
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- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Police Officer Lowry gave the Tacoma Police Department 18 years.
Thank you for your service to the Tacoma community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
William Francis Lowry served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Police Officer William Francis Lowry is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In WA, 187 of 339 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 55.2% of this state's fallen. That is 1 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Tacoma Police Department, 5 of 12 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 41.7% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William Francis Lowry's cause is highlighted.
How William Francis Lowry Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentence to life
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William Francis Lowry is highlighted in Aug.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William Francis Lowry was killed by rifle; sks.
Others Who Wore This Badge
11 officers from Tacoma Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
