Suspect in custody after hostage situation near Tacoma

(Update: Incident over, suspect shot, in custody)

TACOMA, Wash. (AP) – Police say an armed man who held four people at gunpoint and fired multiple shots was shot and taken into custody in what may have been a robbery gone wrong near Tacoma.

The Pierce County Sheriff’s Office said on Twitter at about 10 p.m. Thursday that the suspect was in custody after exchanging gunfire with deputies at Sky Motors Inc. in Parkland.

The sheriff’s office says the man was wearing body armor and was believed to have been hit by a round fired by deputies.

Pierce County Paul Pastor says the suspect entered Sky Motors Inc. in Parkland at about 8 p.m. and held four people at gunpoint. Pastor says when officers arrived three people ran out of the building and that the suspect pulled one person into a back room.

He says a short time later, that person ran outside.

Pastor says the man had fired shots throughout the incident.

The sheriff’s office said the suspect was wearing body armor and was hit once in the vest by a round fired by deputies but was not seriously injured — and no one else was injured, either.

Earllier. the sheriff’s office described the scene as “hot and active.”

Authorities said shots were still being fired as of 9 p.m. and it was believed that the suspect was alone and barricading himself inside the business.

Sheriff Paul Pastor told the media it wasn’t clear if the suspect was shooting at deputies or shooting randomly.

Pierce County sheriff’s deputies said shots were still being fired around 9:30 p.m., possibly from multiple guns. Law enforcement was trying to make contact for negotiations.