Man who fired a pistol at school officer in Tacoma arrested | Tacoma News Tribune

Clifford Lee Mahan was arrested on December 13, 2024, for allegedly firing a pistol at a Tacoma Public Schools patrol officer in July 2024. The shooting occurred in the parking lot of the Tacoma Public Schools Central Administration Building, where Mahan approached the officer's vehicle in a stolen silver Honda CR-V. After exiting the SUV with a handgun, he fired at the officer but narrowly missed, allowing the officer to escape. The Tacoma Police Department's investigation revealed that Mahan's actions were motivated by the officer's earlier intervention in an illegal narcotics transaction on school grounds. Detectives used DNA evidence collected from a Coke can and other items found at the scene to identify Mahan, who was known by the street names 'Shark' and 'Crims.

' He was taken into custody by the Pierce County Sheriff's Department’s tactical team and charged with assault and unlawful possession of a firearm. This case highlights ongoing concerns about safety in school zones and the challenges law enforcement faces in addressing drug-related crime, emphasizing the importance of police intervention in safeguarding educational environments.