A 15-year-old boy was arrested on Monday following the discovery of five family members fatally shot in their home in Fall City, Washington. Authorities say the tragic incident, described as a case of domestic violence, involved the use of a firearm.
The victims have been identified as Mark and Sarah Humiston, along with their three children, all of whom were found deceased after deputies responded to 911 calls reporting gunfire at the residence. The King County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that the suspect is the couple’s 15-year-old son.
Mark Humiston worked as an electrical engineer, while Sarah had previously been a registered nurse, according to local news outlet KING5. The children, described as “young teenagers,” were all victims in this devastating incident.
At a press briefing, Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Mike Mellis confirmed the nature of the tragedy, saying, “This appears to be a domestic incident involving firearms and a young man who is now in serious legal trouble.” He added that there was no major confrontation when the suspect was arrested.
The incident contributes to the alarming rise in gun violence across the country. As of this year, there have been over 427 mass shootings in the United States, according to the Gun Violence Archive, which defines a mass shooting as one in which four or more people are injured or killed, excluding the shooter. Gun violence is the leading cause of death among minors in the U.S., with over 1,100 children and teens killed in shootings this year alone, according to data from the CDC.
In juvenile court on Tuesday, the suspect waived his presence. His attorneys, Amy Parker and Molly Campera, described him as a “15-year-old boy who enjoys mountain biking and fishing and has no prior criminal record.” They stressed that their client is presumed innocent under the law.
“We are grateful for a legal system that demands evidence and proof before rendering a judgment,” the attorneys said in a statement.
Neighbors were left reeling from the tragedy. “I keep bursting into tears,” said Lynne Trowern, who lives nearby. “I can’t stop seeing the faces of those children.”
Prosecutors have yet to file formal charges, as the case is still being investigated by law enforcement, according to Casey McNerthney, a spokesperson for the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.