Coffee house owner: Shootings 'hit close to home'

The owner of Forza Coffee, where four Lakewood police officers were slain this morning, issued the following statement:

The entire Forza team of owners, employees, families and vendors wishes to pass along deep compassion and loss for the four Lakewood police officers who lost their lives this morning. The coldblooded ambush that took place at the Steele Street Forza Coffee House in Parkland, WA at 8:15 a.m. today.

"As a retired police officer," said Brad Carpenter, chief executive officer of Forza Coffee, "this senseless shooting hits extremely close to home to me. These officers put their lives on the line every day to keep us safe, and this crime cuts deep into the heart of the entire Forza family."

Having impacted Forza at a corporate and local level, immediate action will be taken to establish a donation area at each coffee house.

"It is Forza's goal to help the families of those who lost their lives during this difficult holiday season, and into the new year as they struggle to reconstruct their lives in the year ahead," said Rich Jennings, Forza owner.

Our prayers go out to the family and friends of these officers in the face of this horrific tragedy.