Oregon Public Broadcasting

Washington state authorities say a shooting outside Tacoma has left one suspect dead and two Pierce County sheriff's deputies with serious injuries.

Sheriff's spokesman Ed Troyer says the deputies were shot just before 9 p.m. Monday.  They were responding to a domestic violence dispute between two brothers near the rural community of Eatonville.

Troyer says one brother let the deputies into the residence. Soon after, the second brother allegedly opened fire on the officers.

Ed Troyer: "And at some point they were both shot by the suspect. Neither one of them had their guns out, that we can tell, when this occurred. So it appears that they were ambushed. We donít know how the suspect died at this point. We donít know if one of our guys was able to return fire and hit him. Or if he died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound after he shot our deputies."

Authorities have identified the suspected shooter as David E. Crable. Troyer says he was well known to local law enforcement. County officers had been to the location several times previously to answer domestic violence complaints.

The names of the deputies have not been released. Troyer says one officer was in serious condition this morning, but expected to recover. The second officer's condition is more dire.

Ed Troyer: "Unfortunately, the other one is still in critical condition, in ICU at Harborview. And that's something we're probably not going to know more about his condition for a couple of days due to the extent of damage. And they're just going to have to wait before they determine if he's going to be able to pull out of it or just not get any better."

Troyer says both officers are married and have children.

The investigation will continue at the crime scene today. Authorities say the second brother is cooperating with the investigation.   He also provided first aid to one of the officers last night before paramedics arrived.

Last night's shooting is the third in three months in which authorities say a gunman has taken aim at law enforcement officials in Washington state.