Teen Accused of Killing Family in Washington State Home Shooting
Charged with Five Counts of Murder and One Count of Attempted Murder
A 15-year-old boy has been charged with five counts of murder and one count of attempted murder in the slayings of his parents and three siblings in a shooting at their home in Fall City, Washington. The 15-year-old, who has not been named due to his age, allegedly shot and killed the victims, and then called the police to claim that one of the victims had committed the crime.
The Shooting and Investigation
On Monday morning, the King County Sheriff’s Office received reports of a shooting at a home in the Lake Alice Road neighborhood in Fall City, about 25 miles east of Seattle. When police arrived, they found five people, including two adults and three children, ages 7, 9, and 13, deceased. An 11-year-old sister who was also shot but played dead managed to escape the home and go to a neighbor’s house.
The 15-year-old’s False Claim
The 15-year-old accused of committing the crime allegedly called the police around 4:55 a.m. and claimed that the 13-year-old who was killed had shot his whole family and then committed suicide. However, investigators say this claim is false and that the teenager staged the scene to blame one of the victims.
The Surviving Sibling’s Account
The 11-year-old sister who escaped the home told investigators that her 15-year-old brother shot her and her family with a Glock handgun belonging to their father. She said she was shot and then left the room, and heard someone shouting "stop" and "help" before she escaped.
Legal Proceedings
The 15-year-old has been taken into custody and is being held in a juvenile detention facility. At his first court appearance, his lawyers stated that the law presumes him to be innocent of the charges. The prosecution has filed six counts of murder and one count of attempted murder, all with a designation for domestic violence.
Conclusion
The shooting of five family members in their home is a tragic and disturbing event that has left the community in shock. The accused 15-year-old is facing serious charges, and the investigation is ongoing. The family’s father was an electrical engineer who worked at Hargis Engineers, and the company has issued a statement expressing their shock and sadness at his death.
FAQs
- What are the charges against the accused 15-year-old?
Five counts of murder and one count of attempted murder. - What was the 15-year-old’s claim to the police?
He claimed that the 13-year-old who was killed had shot his whole family and then committed suicide. - What was the 11-year-old sister’s account of what happened?
She said her 15-year-old brother shot her and her family, and she heard someone shouting "stop" and "help" before she escaped. - What is the status of the case?
The case is ongoing, and the 15-year-old is being held in a juvenile detention facility.
