Man who shot at a Tacoma Public Schools officer in parking lot arrested

On July 18, 2024, a Tacoma Public School Patrol Officer was the target of a shooting by Clifford Lee Mahan, who fired a pistol at the officer's marked vehicle in the parking lot of the Tacoma Public Schools Central Administration Building. The shooting followed the officer's confrontation with individuals suspected of drug activities. Mahan exited a stolen silver Honda CR-V and fired the gun, narrowly missing the officer, who managed to escape unharmed. Mahan was arrested on December 13, 2024, by specialized law enforcement units and faces charges of assault and unlawful possession of a firearm in Pierce County Superior Court. Investigators believe this violent act was linked to an illegal narcotics transaction, raising serious concerns about safety in school zones and the impact of drug-related crime in the community.