Sister’s Testimony Leads to Arrest in Family Shooting Case
A 15-year-old boy from Fall City, Washington, has been charged with five counts of aggravated murder following the deaths of his parents and three younger siblings earlier this week. The teen initially attempted to blame the crime on his 13-year-old brother, but an 11-year-old sister who survived the attack and fled to a neighbor’s house identified him as the shooter.
Details of the Incident and Arrest
King County authorities revealed that the shooting occurred early Monday morning at the family’s home east of Seattle. According to an affidavit from King County Detective Aaron Thompson, the teen called 911 around 5 a.m., claiming his younger brother had killed their family due to getting in trouble for looking at inappropriate material online.
However, a neighbor soon called 911 reporting that the 11-year-old girl had escaped from the home, saying she had pretended to be dead to survive. The girl identified her 15-year-old brother as the shooter before she was transported to a Seattle hospital for treatment, where she was later released. Deputies arrested the teen in the driveway, and they found the bodies of his parents and three siblings inside the home.
Possible Motive and Access to Firearm
According to the affidavit, the surviving sister reported that her brother had recently been in trouble at school due to failing tests. She also said that the handgun used in the shootings belonged to their father, and her brother was the only child who knew the code to unlock the safe where the gun was stored.
The King County Medical Examiner’s Office identified the victims as Mark and Sarah Humiston, both in their early 40s, and their children Katheryn, 7, Joshua, 9, and Benjamin, 13.
Legal Proceedings Begin
The 15-year-old waived his right to appear in juvenile court on Tuesday. Under Washington state law, a hearing is required to determine if his case will be moved to adult court. The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office confirmed that the teen has no prior criminal history. His defense attorneys, who were present in court, have yet to issue a statement.
The teen’s next court appearance is scheduled for Friday afternoon.
