Crime & Safety
'Puyallup Opossum Killer' Put Schools On Lockdown Wednesday
A 70-year-old man dealing with varmints reportedly caused a lockdown at several Puyallup-area schools Wednesday morning.
PUYALLUP, WA - Lockdowns at a handful of Puyallup area schools Wednesday morning were reportedly caused by a man who was shooting at an opossum. And according to Puyallup police, it sounds like the opossum didn't make it.
Multiple residents called police after hearing sporadic gunfire in the 900-block of Fourth Avenue Southwest around 7 a.m. April 17. Puyallup Police spokesman Capt. Ryan Portmann said the initial police response consisted of about 12 officers.
Eventually, officers located their "Puyallup Opossum Killer" — a 70-year-old man who was apparently oblivious to the chaos he was causing in the surrounding neighborhood.
Find out what's happening in Puyallupfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
"Obviously we gave him a little education," Portmann said, noting the man was not arrested or cited, though officers will forward the case to Pierce County prosecutors to consider misdemeanor charges of unlawful and/or reckless discharge of a firearm.
After learning the true nature of the gunfire, the locked-down schools resumed regular daily activities.
Find out what's happening in Puyallupfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
This morning our officers responded to multiple reports of multiple shots fired in the area of the 900 blk of 4th Ave SW. Several schools in the area were placed in lockdown. Officers believe they located the source of the shots fired & there is no safety concern to the community
— Puyallup Police (@PuyallupPD) April 17, 2019
#RIPopossum
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