Five people were found dead Monday morning in a shooting at a home southeast of Seattle, Washington State, with authorities taking a teenager into custody in what appears to be a family-related incident.
Deputies responded to multiple 911 calls reporting gunfire around 5 a.m. in Fall City, Washington, King County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Mike Mellis said at an afternoon news conference.
Responding officers immediately detained one teenager who lived at the residence and transported another injured teen resident to a Seattle hospital. Inside the home, deputies discovered five bodies, including two adults and three described as young teenagers, Mellis said.
“Once bodies were discovered, clearly we understand that this is a hugely significant crime scene,” Mellis said. While the shooting appears to involve family members, investigators are still working to determine exact relationships among the victims.
The detained teenager has been booked into King County’s juvenile detention facility and is scheduled for an initial court appearance Tuesday or Wednesday, according to the county Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.
A neighbor told KING-TV that a couple and their five children lived in the home. “I’m just in total shock, I keep bursting into tears,” resident Lynne Trowern said.
King County Councilmember Sarah Perry released a statement Monday evening confirming the incident involved a family of seven people.
Sheriff Patricia Cole-Tindall expressed distress over the shooting, telling KING-TV she was “very sad, very disturbed” by the incident.
Authorities stressed there is no ongoing threat to the community. “I have no reason to think that there will be any additional arrests,” Mellis said.
Names of the victims have not yet been released as the investigation continues.
