PIERCE COUNTY, WA—A Piece County Sherriff’s Department deputy in Washington State was shot and killed on January 7 while responding to a home invasion in the Frederickson, Washington area.

The deputy, Daniel McCartney, was 34. He lived in Yelm, Washington and was the father of three. He had been with the department since 2014 and was a veteran of the United States Navy.

McCartney was fatally wounded during a confrontation with suspected home invaders Sunday night after the sheriff’s department received a call for assistance at about 11:25 p.m. Dispatchers reported hearing screaming and sounds of a scuffle over the phone during the 911 call.

McCartney arrived on the scene roughly six minutes after the call was placed and immediately began pursuing suspects fleeing from the property. Shortly after beginning pursuit, he was wounded in a shootout with the suspects.

The deputy was taken to St. Joseph Medical Center in Tacoma. He died at approximately 2 a.m.

One suspect, Henry Michael Carden, was found dead at the scene of the shootout. He is believed to have died from wounds sustained during an exchange of gunfire with McCartney. A handgun was discovered next to his body.

The second suspect, Frank William Pawul, was taken into custody by authorities on January 8 on unrelated warrants. Police discovered Pawul’s connection to the shooting after receiving updated descriptions of the those involved.

More than 1,500 law enforcement personnel and civilians were present on January 10 for a procession transporting McCartney’s body from Joint Base Lewis McChord to Pacific Lutheran University, where a memorial service for the slain deputy took place.  

In a statement to KXRO Radio, Hoquiam police Sgt. Jeff Salstrom said, “Dan was a good guy and a good police officer. More importantly he was an extremely devoted dad.”