A tragic incident unfolded in the Seattle area earlier this week, as five members of a family were discovered dead in their home. The accused is a 15-year-old boy, who initially claimed that his brother was responsible for the murders before taking his own life. However, his 11-year-old sister, who survived the ordeal, contradicted his account, asserting that her elder brother was the perpetrator.
The horrific event took place in the early hours of Monday in the family’s waterfront residence in Fall City, about 25 miles east of Seattle. The victims were identified as Mark Humiston, 43, Sarah Humiston, 42, and their children Benjamin, 13, Joshua, 9, and Katheryn, 7. The father was shot four times, while the mother was shot twice, according to the probable cause statement.
The surviving siblings, an 11-year-old girl and the accused 15-year-old boy, are the only remaining members of the family. The boy was the one who alerted the King County Sheriff’s Office of the murders, alleging that his 13-year-old brother was the culprit and had committed suicide after the act.
The 15-year-old boy told the 911 operator that his brother had committed the act because he was in trouble for viewing inappropriate content online. However, his younger sister, who survived the mass shooting, provided a different account. She stated that her elder brother had used their father’s Glock handgun to carry out the murders.
The girl managed to survive by pretending to be dead and escaping through a window. She was later hospitalized and has since been discharged. She told the police that the handgun was kept in a lockbox, and her elder brother was the only one who knew the combination.
Shortly after the boy’s call to the police, a neighbor also dialed 911 to report that the girl had survived a shooting carried out by her elder brother. The boy, who is currently held in a juvenile detention facility, has been ordered by the judge to have no contact with his surviving sister.
Investigators concluded that the 15-year-old boy had attempted to frame his deceased brother for the murders. He was arrested at the crime scene, where it was determined that he had staged the scene to make it appear as if his brother had committed the murders and then taken his own life.
The 15-year-old boy was charged on Thursday with five counts of murder and one count of attempted murder in juvenile court. All charges were filed as acts of domestic violence, with the attempted murder charge carrying a firearms enhancement, which could lead to a harsher sentence if he is convicted.
Prosecutors are seeking a discretionary decline hearing, which could result in the case being transferred to adult court. This process could take several months. The defense attorneys for the teenager emphasized his lack of criminal history and his presumed innocence until proven guilty.
The father of the family was an electrical engineer for Hargis Engineers. The company expressed their shock and sadness over the tragic events, describing the father as a respected colleague, mentor, and friend.