Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, Native Mark Renninger Among Four Officers Shot Down in Washington State

Southeastern Pennsylvania is reeling over the death of Mark Renninger, a Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, native. Mark Renninger was one of four officers ambushed and gunned down in Lakewood, Washington State at the Forza Coffee Co. coffee house on Sunday morning. The other offices have been identified as 40-year-old Tina Griswold, 37-year-old Ronald Owens and 42-year-old Greg Richards.

While Renninger made Washington State his home with his wife and three children, his extended family still lives in the Bethlehem area in Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania. .

WFMZ reported that the Renninger family was too distraught to speak on camera, but told them that Mark was the second of six children. He left the Lehigh Valley for Washington when he joined the military, and remained there after he met his wife and went into local law enforcement.

Described as a devout family man, 39-year-old Renninger grew up in Bethlehem, and graduated from Liberty High School in 1989. He joined the military shortly after graduation and was assigned to the 75th Ranger Regiment and stationed at Ft. Lewis in Washington State. Sgt. Renninger's brother Matthew, a retired police officer, told WFMZ:

"Mark was a professional, dedicated police officer who made the ultimate sacrifice. More importantly, he was a loving and devoted father, husband and family member who will be missed by many."

Mark Renninger had five years experience with the Lakewood Police Department and eight years with the Tukwila Police Department.

Pierce County Sheriff's Department is searching for Maurice Clemmons, a known dangerous criminal. Pierce County Spokesman Ed Troyer said of the shootings:

"Two of them were flat executed sitting writing reports, one of them stood up and tried to go for the suspect and got shot and the fourth one fought his way out to the parking lot." One officer did manage to fire his weapon, and the suspect may be wounded."

This is not the first tragedy for the Renninger family. In 2006, while a police officer in Easton, Pennsylvania, Matthew Renninger accidentally killed a fellow officer in the gun cleaning room at Easton Police Headquarters. He retired soon after.

The Renninger family is preparing to fly out to Washington, while local police officers and the community visit the home with condolences.

Sources: WFMZ-TV; LehighValleyLive.com